Hezbollah accuses the Lebanese authorities of “weakness” and criticizes the resumption of discussions with Israel
In the Lebanese Parliament, the Hezbollah group accuses the authorities of “continuing to sink into a posture of retreat and weakness” in the face of Israel, according to information from the daily L’Orient-Le Jour.
The parliamentary group also criticizes the new discussions started today between the Jewish state and Lebanon in Washington, which allow Israel “to exploit the negotiations to its advantage”, according to Hezbollah.
Blaming the Lebanese authorities for multiplying “concessions” without obtaining “even a ceasefire”, the bloc calls on the authorities to “abandon this shameful policy”.
IMF warns that continued war brings global economy closer to ‘unfavorable’ scenario
Continued disruption from war in the Middle East risks leading to less growth and more inflation globally, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) warns.
The organization’s latest projections, published last month, expect global growth to be limited to 3.1% this year due to the conflict and the blockage of energy flows that it has caused in the Gulf.
The IMF, however, believes that an even more “unfavorable” scenario is possible if the war continues.
Revolutionary Guards confirm allowing Chinese ships to pass through Strait of Hormuz
In a press release, the Revolutionary Guards, Iran’s ideological army, confirm that since yesterday they have authorized the passage of several Chinese ships through the Strait of Hormuz, which has been blocked by Tehran since the start of the war in the Middle East.
“The passage of a certain number of Chinese ships through the Strait of Hormuz was made possible in accordance with the strait management protocols put in place by Iran,” they indicate.
This crossing, which began “last night”, was put in place thanks to “the close relations between the two countries and their strategic partnership”, adds the press release.
Donald Trump assures that China will not send weapons to Iran and will help the United States to reopen the Strait of Hormuz
In an interview with Fox News, Donald Trump, currently visiting China, claimed that Xi Jinping offered him help to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
He wants “to see the strait open, assured the American president. He said: ‘If I can be of any help, I would be delighted to help'”.
Still according to Donald Trump, Xi Jinping also “strongly affirmed” that he would not send military equipment to Iran.
US Central Command chief says Hamas, Hezbollah and Yemen’s Houthis are ‘cut off from Iran’s support’
Hearing before the United States Senate Armed Services Committee, Brad Cooper, head of the American Central Command (CentCom), affirmed that following the military operation “Epic Fury” the Palestinian Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis of Yemen, “are all cut off from arms supply and support from Iran.
Brad Cooper, whose comments are relayed on the CentCom X account, accuses these different groups of having attacked American forces more than 350 times during the 30 months which preceded the military operation.
US Central Command says it ‘immobilized’ four commercial ships in Arabian Sea
In a publication on This sea is located south of the Strait of Hormuz.
New negotiations between Israel and Lebanon open in Washington
New discussions to achieve rapprochement between Israel and Lebanon are opening in Washington, according to diplomats, as a ceasefire expires.
This third round of discussions, which is expected to last two days, began shortly after 9 a.m. local time (3 p.m. in Paris) at the State Department, according to a diplomat close to the matter.
Israeli defense minister says country must ‘bring to a successful conclusion’ its war in Iran
In a speech at the annual commemoration ceremony for the Six Day War and the War of Attrition, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz declared his country “prepared for the possibility of soon having to act again [en Iran] to guarantee the achievement of the objectives of the war”, reports the Hareetz newspaper.
He added: “Iran has suffered extremely harsh setbacks over the past year – and yet our mission is not over. We must carry out the objectives of this campaign.”
Speaking about Lebanon, he said houses in the south of the country were “being used for terrorist activities” and “being destroyed.” He also rejoiced at the destruction of the village of Ayta ash-Shaab.
At least 59 Lebanese children killed or injured last week according to Unicef
In a press release, Unicef denounces the deaths or injuries of 59 Lebanese children in the last seven days.
“In total, at least 23 children have been killed and 93 injured since the ceasefire [du 17 avril, NDLR]according to the Ministry of Health, which brings the toll to 200 children killed and 806 injured since March 2, the equivalent of 14 children killed or injured per day”, declares the UN agency.
Unicef adds that around 770,000 Lebanese children “suffer increased distress due to repeated exposure to violence, loss and displacement.”
Iran allows Chinese ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, according to an Iranian news agency
Iran has started allowing Chinese ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz after reaching an agreement on Iranian management protocols for the strait, the semi-official Fars news agency said, cited by Reuters.
India condemns attack on ship off Oman yesterday
The Indian Foreign Ministry has described the attack on an Indian-flagged ship off the coast of Oman as “unacceptable”, according to a maritime security watchdog. New Delhi did not provide further details on this attack which occurred yesterday, nor on the fate of this unidentified vessel, nor on the identity of those presumed responsible.
“The attack on an Indian-flagged vessel off the coast of Omani yesterday is unacceptable, and we deplore that commercial shipping and civilian seafarers continue to be targeted,” the Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
All crew members rescued by Muscat are safe and sound, he added, without providing further details. According to maritime security company Vanguard Tech, the cargo ship – identified as the MSV Haj Ali – was carrying 14 crew members and reportedly sank off the coast of Omani after an explosion, according to its information.
Iran accuses the United Arab Emirates of being an ‘active partner’ in the war alongside the United States and Israel
Iran’s foreign minister has accused the United Arab Emirates of playing an “active” role alongside the United States and Israel in the war against Iran.
“The United Arab Emirates is an active partner in aggression (against Iran), there is no doubt about it,” Abbas Araghchi said at the Brics summit in India. “It is now clear that they participated in these attacks, perhaps even that they acted directly against us.”
He also referred to the meeting, described as “secret” by Israel, between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the President of the United Arab Emirates Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, and which Abu Dhabi denies was held. “Those who collaborate with Israel to sow division will be held to account.”
White House calls meeting between US, Chinese leaders ‘good’
The White House described the meeting between American Presidents Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping as “good”, without mentioning the subject of Taiwan in a report of the talks.
“President Trump had a good meeting with Chinese President Xi. The two sides discussed ways to strengthen economic cooperation between the two countries,” she said.
Israeli army announces several civilians injured in northern Israel after Hezbollah drone attack
A drone attack by the pro-Iranian movement Hezbollah injured several civilians in northern Israel, the Israeli army announced, a few hours before the resumption of talks in Washington between representatives of Israel and Lebanon.
“An explosive drone launched by the terrorist organization Hezbollah fell on Israeli territory, near the Israeli-Lebanese border,” the army said. “Several Israeli civilians were injured and evacuated to hospital for treatment.”
Donald Trump and Xi Jinping agree that the Strait of Hormuz “must remain open”
The White House announced that U.S. and Chinese leaders have agreed that the Strait of Hormuz “must remain open.”
“Both sides agreed that the Strait of Hormuz should remain open to ensure the free flow of energy.”
China and the United States also agreed that “Iran must never have nuclear weapons.”
Israeli army announces attack on Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Lebanon
In a message on social networks, the Israeli Air Force announced that it had “begun to attack Hezbollah infrastructure in several areas of southern Lebanon”. This announcement comes two hours after a call for residents to evacuate eight towns in the region.
A new round of talks between Israel and Lebanon is due to begin in Washington today.
A ship “stormed” off the coast of the United Arab Emirates
The British maritime agency UKMTO announced that it had received a report of an incident that occurred northeast of Fujairah, in the United Arab Emirates.
“The ship’s security manager indicated that the ship had been stormed by unauthorized persons while it was at anchor and that it was now heading towards Iranian territorial waters,” explains the British agency in a press release.
Iran reopens internet access, but only for the privileged
Millions of Iranian residents found themselves digitally isolated from the rest of the world starting February 28, when the United States and Israel attacked the country. The cut decided by the authorities, the longest ever imposed by a country in history, had serious consequences for economic sectors which depended on a connection, such as high technologies and online commerce.
A new access system has been put in place, a privileged and paid service which is far from unanimously supported. The reformist newspaper Shargh and other media have criticized a “sliced internet”, which means “the transformation of the internet (…) into privilege”.
“This model establishing categories and rankings for the Internet in Iran is not good,” said Amir-Hassan, a 39-year-old IT employee.
“This is obviously a way to make money” for the state.
Italy to deploy two minehunters near the Gulf
The Italian Defense Minister announced yesterday that Italy would preposition two minehunting ships closer to the Gulf, so that they could intervene quickly to secure the Strait of Hormuz when conditions permit.
The Israeli army calls for the evacuation of several communities in southern Lebanon
The Arabic-language spokesperson for the Israeli army published a call to evacuate eight towns and villages in southern Lebanon, before a new offensive justified by “the violation of the ceasefire agreement” by Hezbollah.
Xi Jinping and Donald Trump discussed, among other things, the war in the Middle East
Chinese and US Presidents Xi Jinping and Donald Trump discussed the situation in the Middle East, Ukraine and the Korean Peninsula at their summit in Beijing today, Chinese Foreign Affairs said.
“The two heads of state exchanged their views on major international and regional issues, notably the situation in the Middle East, the crisis in Ukraine and the Korean Peninsula,” they said without further details.
United Arab Emirates denies reports of Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit
The authorities of the United Arab Emirates yesterday denied “information circulating” reporting a visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or a military delegation to the country.
The Israeli Prime Minister’s office claimed that Benjamin Netanyahu had secretly traveled during the war with Iran to the United Arab Emirates, one of the rare Arab countries to have normalized its relations with Israel, and had been received there by the president, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The office of the head of the Israeli government welcomed a “historic advance”.
Japanese ship ‘succeeded in crossing the Strait of Hormuz’ and evacuated the Persian Gulf
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced that a Japanese ship, previously stranded in the Persian Gulf, “succeeded in crossing the Strait of Hormuz” today.
It “has evacuated the Persian Gulf and is currently sailing towards Japan”, she adds. “Four Japanese crew members are on board this ship.”
The number of Japanese ships remaining in the Persian Gulf is 39, “including one with three Japanese crew members on board.”
Iran expects “significant” economic revenues from Hormuz and strengthen its international stature
A spokesperson for the Iranian army believes that Tehran’s control of the Strait of Hormuz could generate “significant” economic benefits and strengthen the country’s international stature.
The blockage of this strategic maritime route – through which nearly 20% of the world’s oil supply usually passes – has shaken international markets since the start of the war in the Middle East and offered Tehran major geopolitical leverage.
In Washington, Israeli and Lebanese negotiators meet a few days before the ceasefire
Israeli and Lebanese negotiators meet in Washington, a few days before the expiration of a ceasefire which has not prevented hundreds of additional deaths during Israeli strikes against Hezbollah.
This meeting, the second, comes the day after a series of Israeli strikes on around thirty places in Lebanon which left at least 22 dead, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health.
At least 22 dead in Israeli strikes in Lebanon
The Israeli army intensified its strikes in Lebanon yesterday, killing at least 22 people according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health, despite the truce in progress since April 17.
These strikes, on more than 30 separate locations according to the national information agency (ANI, official) come as Lebanon and Israel, which do not maintain diplomatic relations, are due to begin a new session of talks on Thursday in Washington under the aegis of the United States, despite opposition from the pro-Iranian movement Hezbollah.
Donald Trump intends to put pressure on China to use its influence with Iran to end the crisis in the Gulf
Hello and welcome to this live broadcast dedicated to the 76th day of the war in the Middle East.
Received with great fanfare in Beijing, Donald Trump plays the conciliation card with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping. For this state visit, topics abound. At the head, the war in the Middle East.
According to Marco Rubio, Donald Trump intends to put pressure so that China, a key strategic and economic partner of Iran – it is the main country importing its oil – uses its influence with a view to resolving the crisis in the Gulf.
