The United Kingdom and France will jointly host a virtual defense ministers’ meeting on Tuesday to discuss military planning aimed at normalizing commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, according to a British government statement. The announcement came just hours after Iran warned both London and Paris against deploying warships to the region. More than 40 countries are expected to participate in the meeting, co-chaired by UK Defense Minister John Healey and French Defense Minister Catherine Vautrin.

The meeting follows an April gathering of military planners in London, where discussions focused on implementing a multinational mission led by the UK and France to secure the vital waterway after a sustainable ceasefire. Both countries have already deployed naval assets to the Middle East: France sent its nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, while the UK dispatched the destroyer HMS Dragon. Officials said these deployments are part of preparations for an international mission to safeguard maritime traffic.

Iran’s deputy foreign minister warned that any foreign warships entering the strait would face an immediate and firm response, asserting that only Iran can ensure its security. French President Emmanuel Macron later clarified that France supports a coordinated security mission involving Iran rather than unilateral naval deployment.

Israel’s military is facing major challenges in countering ‘First Person View’ (FPV) drones launched by Lebanon’s armed group Hezbollah, according to a report by The Jerusalem Post. The drones use special fiber‑optic cables for direct control, making them resistant to Israel’s jamming and signal‑blocking systems. One such FPV drone reportedly struck an Iron Dome battery along Israel’s northern border last Sunday, and Hezbollah has released footage of the attack.

The report adds that Israeli defense officials, during a recent visit to southern Lebanon, confirmed the launch of several pilot programs aimed at improving detection and interception of these drones. However, the military has yet to match the pace of Hezbollah’s evolving drone technology in real time, the report noted.

The situation underscores a growing tactical challenge for Israel’s air defense systems as Hezbollah continues to deploy advanced, hard‑to‑jam FPV drones in cross‑border operations.

US President Donald Trump said the United States is monitoring Iran’s enriched uranium, which he described as being buried under rubble. In an interview with journalist Sharyl Attkisson, recorded last week and aired on Sunday, Trump warned that if anyone approaches Iran’s enriched uranium, the US would detect it and take military action. He also claimed that Iran has been militarily defeated and that the US has already struck 70 percent of its targets in Iran, with more potential targets identified.

According to Iran’s state news agency IRNA, Tehran has responded to the latest US proposal aimed at ending the war. The proposal reportedly emphasizes US war reparations, Iran’s sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, lifting of sanctions, and the release of Iran’s frozen funds and assets.

The developments follow a joint US-Israeli strike on Iran on February 28, after which Iran retaliated with missile and drone attacks on Israeli and US positions in the Middle East and tightened control over the Strait of Hormuz.

British surgeon Dr. Tahir Mohammad has dismissed Israel’s claim that Hezbollah is using ambulances to transport weapons during the ongoing conflict in Lebanon. Speaking to Al Jazeera, he said there is no evidence supporting the allegation and described Israel’s increasing attacks on healthcare workers as part of a long-standing policy. Dr. Mohammad, who has worked in both Lebanon and Gaza, cited incidents where ambulances and aid workers were obstructed while trying to assist victims.

He further stated that in Gaza, video footage showed ambulance workers being killed while rescuing the wounded, calling Israel’s justifications baseless. Expressing anger, he said he had witnessed colleagues in Gaza killed by Israeli weapons and argued that targeting healthcare workers in Lebanon reflects the same continuous policy. According to Lebanon’s Health Ministry, more than a hundred healthcare workers have been killed since Israeli attacks began in March.

Dr. Mohammad accused Israel of attempting to cripple the healthcare system in violation of international law, emphasizing the humanitarian toll of the ongoing assaults.

An Israeli soldier was killed on Sunday in a Hezbollah drone attack near the Manara area close to the southern Lebanon border, according to the Israeli military. The incident marks the latest in a series of deadly exchanges between Hezbollah and Israel since fighting intensified in early March, bringing the total number of Israeli soldiers killed to 18.

Following the attack, Israeli media reported that the military launched airstrikes and artillery fire on multiple positions in southern Lebanon. Explosions were also heard in Israel’s northern Galilee region. Hezbollah later stated that its forces targeted Israeli troops inside a house in the southern Lebanese town of Al-Taybeh amid ongoing border clashes.

The renewed violence underscores the persistent volatility along the Israel-Lebanon frontier, with both sides engaging in repeated retaliatory strikes since the escalation began earlier this year.

Since February, the United States has significantly increased intelligence flights near Cuba’s coastline, according to a CNN report citing FlightRadar24 data. The report states that since February 4, the US Navy and Air Force have conducted at least 25 surveillance missions using aircraft and drones, mainly near Havana and Santiago de Cuba, with some flights coming within 40 miles of the coast. Most operations involved P-8A Poseidon patrol aircraft, while RC-135V Rivet Joint planes and MQ-4C Triton drones were also deployed.

Before February, such flights were rare in the region. The report links the surge to a January 29 executive order signed by President Donald Trump authorizing tariffs on imports from countries supplying oil to Cuba. The Cuban government has accused the US of trying to cripple its economy through energy restrictions. The Pentagon declined to comment on the reported flights.

CNN noted that similar patterns of increased surveillance occurred before US military actions in Venezuela and Iran, raising concerns in Havana about possible escalation.

Former national security adviser and strategic analyst Mark Feifel stated that Iran and the United States remain in the same positions where their negotiations began, with neither side shifting its stance. According to Feifel, Iran seeks the removal of all sanctions and blockades, along with an end to U.S. and Israeli military operations. In contrast, Donald Trump demands that Iran abandon enriched uranium, halt its ballistic missile program, and stop funding regional allied groups.

Feifel believes it is unlikely that Trump will initiate another major war against Iran, citing the recent declaration by Trump and his secretary of state that “Operation Epic Fury” has ended. Symbolically, this announcement removes the immediate prospect of a large-scale military campaign. Instead, Feifel expects Trump to intensify economic pressure, possibly through naval blockades and limited military actions near the Strait of Hormuz targeting Iranian speedboats, drone launch pads, and missile sites.

He added that Trump might tighten sanctions further or seek to involve European and Asian navies in protecting shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, though his available strategic options now appear limited.

Saudi Arabia and Turkey have launched a joint initiative to develop the fifth-generation KAAN fighter jet, aiming to strengthen their air forces and reduce reliance on Western suppliers. The partnership seeks to enhance local defense industries and enable Saudi Arabia to build its own aerospace sector. Turkey expects the collaboration to secure funding and credibility for its advanced technologies, potentially altering the current balance of air power in the Middle East. The project is viewed as a challenge to Israel’s air superiority.

Reports of Saudi financial support for the KAAN program and interest in purchasing the aircraft have caused unease in Washington, especially after a 2025 agreement to supply F-35 jets to Riyadh. U.S. officials expressed disappointment over Saudi interest in alternative advanced aircraft. The move reflects a broader regional trend of diversifying defense partnerships as Middle Eastern nations seek suppliers offering technology transfer and fewer restrictions.

Analysts note that the U.S. faces a strategic dilemma as its reliability as a security guarantor is increasingly questioned. A successful Saudi-Turkish partnership could modernize Riyadh’s air fleet and reshape the region’s defense landscape, reducing U.S. dominance in the arms market.

Iran has responded to a United States proposal aimed at ending the ongoing war, according to a report by Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB on Sunday. The broadcaster stated that accepting the US plan would amount to Iran surrendering to what it described as former President Donald Trump’s greed. The statement was released through IRIB’s Telegram channel.

IRIB said Tehran’s response emphasized the fundamental rights of the Iranian nation. Iran’s latest proposal reportedly highlighted the need for wartime compensation from the United States, recognition of Iran’s sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, and the lifting of sanctions. It also called for the release of Iran’s frozen funds and assets.

US President Donald Trump rejected Iran’s response on Sunday, writing on his Truth Social platform that he had read the reply from Iran’s so-called representatives and found it completely unacceptable. No further details were provided about the content of either side’s proposals.

Strategic analyst and founder of Off the Record Strategies, Mark Pfeifle, has dismissed the ongoing discussions between Washington and Tehran as peace talks. Speaking on May 11, 2026, he described the exchanges as a contest of pressure, with both sides testing who will yield first. According to Pfeifle, the United States is applying pressure through sanctions, naval power, and blockades, while Iran is responding from within the Strait of Hormuz, creating uncertainty and disruption.

Pfeifle explained that the situation has become a waiting game for President Trump, who is reportedly observing how long Iran can endure the strain. He noted that Iran is facing a severe economic crisis, with the rial’s exchange rate falling to about 1.84 million per US dollar. Prices of essentials such as bread and cooking oil have risen by more than 200 percent, and overall inflation stands near 50 percent. A leaked US intelligence assessment, however, suggests Iran may withstand the current pressure for several more months.

Pfeifle concluded that Trump’s next move remains uncertain, leaving the future of the standoff unclear.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen held a telephone conversation, according to Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB. The discussion focused on bilateral relations and recent developments in the regional and diplomatic landscape.

IRIB reported on its Telegram channel that the two ministers exchanged detailed views on strengthening cooperation and maintaining regional stability. Before speaking with the Dutch minister, Araghchi also held a phone conversation with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty on the same day. Tehran’s outreach is part of ongoing diplomatic efforts to ease tensions and promote peace in the Middle East.

The report emphasized that the dialogue between Iran and the Netherlands carries particular importance for enhancing bilateral cooperation and supporting regional stability.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that support for Israel in the United States has declined since the start of the Gaza war, attributing the shift to social media and misinformation campaigns. He made the remarks during an interview with CBS News, emphasizing that Israel has taken extensive measures to move civilians out of conflict zones in Gaza and Lebanon, but that online anti-Israel narratives have proven effective.

According to a Pew Research Center survey conducted in March, 60 percent of American adults now hold unfavorable views of Israel. Netanyahu argued that the drop in U.S. support is almost entirely linked to the rapid growth of social media platforms.

The comments highlight Israel’s concern over changing public opinion in the United States, a key ally, as digital platforms increasingly shape global perceptions of the conflict.

At least 51 people were killed in Israeli attacks across Lebanon within the past 24 hours, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. Among the dead were two medical workers, prompting the ministry to accuse Israel of violating international law and humanitarian norms by targeting healthcare personnel.

The ministry reported that since Israel launched a renewed military campaign on March 2, a total of 2,846 people have been killed nationwide. The United Nations stated that more than 130 Israeli strikes during this period have killed at least 103 Lebanese medical workers and injured 230 others. Ali Safiuddin, head of Civil Defense in the southern city of Tyre, told Al Jazeera that emergency workers face constant danger and feel as though they have already sacrificed their lives.

The conflict has displaced over 1.2 million Lebanese since March 2. Despite a ceasefire declared on April 16, the intensity of Israeli attacks has increased rather than subsided.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that the war against Iran is not yet over. He stated that Israel’s operations will continue until Iran’s uranium enrichment facilities are destroyed and the activities of Tehran-backed groups are halted. Netanyahu emphasized that much work remains to be done to counter Iran’s nuclear capability and regional influence.

The statement came as U.S. President Donald Trump rejected a ceasefire proposal from Iran. Israel maintains that military action must persist until Iran’s nuclear program and allied groups’ threats are completely eliminated. Analysts cited in the report suggest that Netanyahu’s remarks signal a possible prolongation of tensions in the Middle East.

The comments underscore Israel’s continued focus on Iran’s nuclear ambitions and its regional network of allies, indicating that the conflict may extend further if no diplomatic resolution is reached.

U.S. President Donald Trump has directly rejected Iran’s latest proposal aimed at ending the ongoing war, according to a report published on May 11, 2026. The United States has not specified the reasons behind Trump’s decision to turn down the offer.

Iran’s proposal called for the lifting of naval blockades, removal of U.S. and international sanctions, and retention of full control over its nuclear ambitions and foreign policy. Washington had previously identified these same issues as the root causes of the conflict. Officials familiar with the matter indicated that the United States remains unwilling to compromise on any of Iran’s demands.

The report adds that the U.S. is particularly concerned about Iran’s growing nuclear ambitions and its military posture toward Israel. Washington also seeks to end Tehran’s support for groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah and to reduce its regional influence. It remains uncertain whether Trump’s rejection will advance these objectives or shift the direction of future negotiations.