Shafaq News- Riyadh

Saudi Arabia carried outpreviously undisclosed airstrikes inside Iran earlier this year in retaliationfor attacks targeting the kingdom during the regional war, Reuters reported onTuesday, citing two Western officials and two Iranian officials familiar withthe matter.

The Saudi Air Force conductedthe strikes in late March, marking the first publicly known direct Saudimilitary action on Iranian territory, according to the report. One Westernofficial described the operation as “tit-for-tat strikes” launched after SaudiArabia came under attack during the conflict.

The reported strikes came amidwidening regional fallout following US and Israeli attacks on Iran on February28. Tehran later launched missiles and drones targeting US assets and basesacross all six Gulf Cooperation Council states while closing the Strait ofHormuz.

Read more: Long war with Iran: Repetition of history but with less preparation

Despite the militaryexchanges, Riyadh reportedly maintained diplomatic communication with Tehranthroughout the conflict in an effort to prevent broader escalation. Reutersindicated that Saudi Arabia informed Iran of the retaliatory strikes throughdiplomatic channels, followed by intensive contacts and warnings of furtheraction, eventually leading to an informal understanding aimed at reducingtensions.

One Iranian official quoted byReuters confirmed that Tehran and Riyadh agreed to “cease hostilities,safeguard mutual interests, and prevent escalation.”

Ali Vaez, director of the IranProject at the International Crisis Group, characterized the pattern ofretaliation followed by de-escalation as a “pragmatic recognition” by bothcountries that uncontrolled escalation carried unacceptable risks.

The informal understandingreportedly took effect shortly before Washington and Tehran agreed to a broaderceasefire on April 7.

Saudi Arabia had increasinglywarned of possible military responses in the weeks preceding the strikes, theagency noted. On March 19, Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Sauddeclared that Riyadh reserved the right to take military action if necessary.Three days later, Saudi authorities expelled Iran’s military attaché along withfour Iranian embassy staff members.

Data cited by Reuters from theSaudi Defense Ministry showed that attacks targeting the kingdom declinedsharply after the end of March, dropping from more than 105 missile and dronestrikes in one week to around 25 during the first week of April.

It also reported thatprojectiles launched at Saudi Arabia shortly before the broader ceasefire werebelieved by Western sources to have originated from Iraqi territory rather thandirectly from Iran, suggesting Tehran had reduced direct attacks while alliedarmed groups continued operations.

Saudi Arabia later summonedIraq’s ambassador on April 12 to protest attacks launched from Iraqi territory.

Read more: Iraqi factions' cross-border attacks draw warnings and Arab pressure

Reuters added that tensionsbriefly escalated again on April 7 and 8 after Saudi authorities reporteddozens of drones and missiles targeting the kingdom, prompting Riyadh toconsider retaliatory measures against Iran and Iraq before diplomatic efforts resumed.

Neither Saudi authorities norIran’s Foreign Ministry directly confirmed the reported operations, although asenior Saudi Foreign Ministry official reaffirmed Riyadh’s commitment tode-escalation and regional stability.

Shafaq News- Tehran

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tuesday that the main obstacle to ending the war and reaching a potential agreement remains Washington’s lack of “good faith and credibility.”

According to a statement, Araghchi made the remarks during talks in Tehran with Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister Andreas Motzfeldt Kravik, where the two sides discussed bilateral relations and developments linked to the Islamabad-mediated negotiations. Araghchi also blamed the ongoing tensions in the Strait of Hormuz on the “US-Israeli aggression” against Iran and the continuing blockade on Iranian ports.

Iranian media reported that Tehran has conditioned any return to negotiations on ending the war across all fronts, including Lebanon, alongside sanctions relief and the release of frozen Iranian assets.

Citing an informed source, Fars News Agency said Iran’s conditions also include compensation for war-related damages and recognition of Iranian sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz. The source added that Tehran informed Pakistan that the continuing US naval blockade had further weakened trust in negotiations with Washington, arguing that no new talks could proceed unless Iran’s five conditions were addressed.

According to the report, Iranian officials view recent US proposals as one-sided attempts to secure through diplomacy objectives Washington failed to achieve militarily.

Read more: Iran is losing the war, the US is losing the endgame

Shafaq News- Damascus

Syrians continue to face worsening economic conditionsmarked by rising prices, declining purchasing power, and growing poverty, with many families increasingly relying onremittances and debt to secure basic needs.

A field survey conducted by Shafaq News in Damascus, itscountryside, Aleppo, Homs, and Latakia found widespread stagnation in localmarkets due to weak consumer spending, as residents described the currentsituation as a phase of survival only.

Abu Mohammed, a former public sector employee from ruralDamascus, said his salary before the fall of the previous government “barelycovered a few days,” explaining that the suspension of salaries for manypublic-sector workers forced families to depend on relatives abroad.

“Today, there is no stable source of income,” he noted, adding,“People are selling their belongings or borrowing money to secure food andmedicine.”

Local economic estimates indicate that Syrians’ purchasingpower has declined by between 30% and 50% in recent months due to rising pricesand fluctuations in the Syrian pound on the unofficial market. 

Recent economic reports also showed that the minimum monthlycost of living in Syria has reached nearly two million Syrian pounds,equivalent to around $169.

Amer Deeb, an economic researcher and head of the SyrianRenaissance Council, described the crisis as stagflation affecting livingconditions across the country. “Remittances from abroad had become the backboneof household consumption in Syria amid weak wages and declining localproduction.”

In Aleppo, Umm Ali, a mother of three, said her family nowdepends on “one main meal a day” after food and fuel prices increased. “Breadand vegetables have become a daily burden,” she added, emphasizing thateducation, healthcare, and transportation had become “luxuries for manypeople.”

The owner of “Masar” money transfer office in Damascus toldShafaq News that remittances, once used to improve living standards, had become“the only lifeline for entire families.”

The International Monetary Fund recently reported that therewere “signs of recovery” in the Syrian economy, while stressing the need forbanking reforms and stronger monetary policies to ensure financial stability.

Shafaq News- Kuwait City

Kuwait’s Foreign Ministrysummoned Iranian Ambassador Mohammad Toutounchi on Tuesday, delivering anofficial protest note over “an attempted armed infiltration” reportedly linkedto Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Deputy Foreign MinisterAmbassador Hamad Suleiman Al-Mashaan called on Tehran to “immediately andunconditionally” halt such “hostile” actions, holding Iran fully responsiblefor what he described as a flagrant violation of Kuwaiti sovereignty and abreach of international law, the UN Charter, and UN Security Council Resolution2817 of 2026.

استدعت وزارة الخارجية، ممثلة بسعادة السفير حمد سليمان المشعان، نائب وزير الخارجية، اليوم الثلاثاء الموافق 12 مايو 2026، سعادة السفير محمد توتونجي، سفير الجمهورية الإسلامية الإيرانية لدى دولة الكويت، حيث تم تسليمه مذكرة احتجاج على إثر قيام مجموعة مسلحة من عناصر الحرس الثوري… pic.twitter.com/7K4iCDtIkG

— وزارة الخارجية (@MOFAKuwait) May 12, 2026

Kuwait, he said, reserves theright to self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter and may take anymeasures it deems necessary to protect its sovereignty, territorial security,and residents.

Earlier today, Kuwaitiauthorities arrested four alleged infiltrators accused of links to the IRGC.According to Kuwait’s Interior Ministry, cited by state-run KUNA, the suspects,who attempted to enter the country by sea to carry out “hostile acts,” confessedduring questioning to belonging to the IRGC.

Investigators claimed thegroup had been tasked with infiltrating Bubiyan Island aboard a rented fishingboat to conduct operations targeting Kuwait, where they later clashed withsecurity forces, injuring one serviceman while two members of the group reportedlyescaped.

Shafaq News- Damascus

ISIS on Tuesday claimed responsibility for an attacktargeting a Syrian army bus in Hasakah province in eastern Syria, an assaultthat killed two soldiers and wounded others.

In a statement published by the group’s Amaq news agency, ISISsaid its fighters killed and wounded six Syrian soldiers during the ambush. Syrianstate news agency SANA reported that two Syrian army soldiers were killed andseveral others were injured in the attack.

Earlier on Thursday, ISIS also claimed responsibility forthe killing of Sheikh Farhan al-Mansour, the preacher of Syria’s Sayyida Zeinabshrine, days after a bomb exploded in Damascus.

Shafaq News- Tehran/ Washington

Iran on Tuesday warned that any attack would trigger an immediate response, saying failure to resolve disputes diplomatically would lead to further “defeats on the battlefield.”

Cited by Iranian state media, Defense Ministry spokesperson Brig. Gen. Reza Talaei added that Tehran had proven its ability to defend itself “diplomatically and militarily.”

Earlier today, Ibrahim Rezaei, spokesperson for the Iranian parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, indicated that Tehran could move to raise uranium enrichment to 90% in the event of a new US strike, adding that parliament is set to review the option.

US President Donald Trump, meanwhile, stressed that Washington would maintain pressure on Tehran through sanctions and the naval blockade imposed on Iranian ports while continuing direct contacts with Iranian officials. He has repeatedly insisted that any agreement must end Iran’s uranium enrichment program and prevent Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

Separately, acting Pentagon comptroller Jules Hurst told lawmakers that the cost of the Iran war had risen to $29 billion, citing updated operational and replacement costs tied to maintaining US forces in the Middle East.

Shafaq News- Kuwait City/ Manama

Kuwait arrested four alleged infiltrators accused oflinks to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Tuesday, whileBahrain handed down three life sentences in separate security-related casestied to the group.

According to Kuwait’s Interior Ministry, cited bystate-run KUNA, the suspects, who attempted to enter the country by sea tocarry out “hostile acts,” confessed during questioning to belonging to theIRGC. Investigators claimed the group had been tasked with infiltrating BubiyanIsland aboard a rented fishing boat to conduct operations targeting Kuwait,where they later clashed with security forces, injuring one serviceman whiletwo members of the group reportedly escaped.

استكمالًا لبيان وزارة الدفاع بشأن القبض على 4 متسللين حاولوا دخول البلاد بحرًا وزارة الداخلية: اعتراف مجموعة المتسللين إلى أراضي الكويت أثناء التحقيق معهم بانتمائهم إلى الحرس الثوري في الجمهورية الإسلامية الإيرانية- اعترفوا بتكليفهم بالتسلل إلى جزيرة بوبيان على متن قارب صيد… pic.twitter.com/9YX668nuyJ

— كونا KUNA (@kuna_ar) May 12, 2026

In Bahrain, the High Criminal Court sentenced a womanconvicted of operating a social media account that published coordinates andimages of sensitive sites, alongside two defendants accused of supportingmilitant activities and gathering intelligence on key facilities forIranian-linked operatives. The rulings also included confiscation orders andfines of 10,000 Bahraini dinars ($26,500) for two of the defendants.

السجن المؤبد لمتهمة سعت وتخابرت مع الحرس الثوري الإيراني الإرهابي للقيام بأعمال عدائية ضد مملكة البحرين والإضرار بمصالحها القوميةhttps://t.co/7FTqhkMCTv

— وكالة أنباء البحرين (@bna_ar) May 12, 2026

الحكم بالسجن المؤبد لمتهمين تخابرا مع الحرس الثوري الإيراني الإرهابي للقيام بأعمال عدائية إرهابية ضد مملكة البحرينhttps://t.co/NI8Nvr2QUI

— وكالة أنباء البحرين (@bna_ar) May 12, 2026

Earlier this month, Bahraini authorities arrested 41people accused of links to the IRGC and adherence to the ideology of Wilayatal-Faqih —a Shia political doctrine developed by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini— theInterior Ministry said.

Shafaq News- Middle East

Israel had sent an Iron Dome air defense battery andpersonnel to the United Arab Emirates to help operate the system, US Ambassadorto Israel Mike Huckabee said on Tuesday.

Speaking at an event in Tel Aviv, Huckabee described therelations between Israel and the UAE as exceptional under the Abraham Accords,the 2020 normalization agreement that established diplomatic ties between bothsides.

Earlier, CNN reported, citing a source familiar with thematter, that Israel’s Iron Dome air defense system, covertly deployed in theUnited Arab Emirates, intercepted a missile launched from Iran on May 4. 

Shafaq News- Middle East

The Israeli military said on Tuesday it had carried outmilitary operations north of the Litani River in southern Lebanon, adding that itsAir Force has conducted more than 1,100 strikes targeting Hezbollah positionssince the start of the ceasefire understandings.

Claiming that more than 350 Hezbollah members had beenkilled recently, the military noted that Israeli forces operated for a fullweek on the outskirts of the village of Zawtar al-Sharqiya, where clashes withHezbollah fighters resulted in injuries among several Israeli soldiers.

Israel’s Channel 14 reported that the army carried outengineering works over the Litani River to facilitate the movement of armoredvehicles and infantry during the upcoming phases of the fighting. The Egozcommando unit and the Golani Brigade reconnaissance battalion crossed theLitani River during a 10-day operation moving northward. “The operation aimedto reach areas allegedly used to launch rockets and drones as part ofpreparations to expand military operations.”

Meanwhile, Israeli Army Radio said the military has begundeploying new systems inspired by tactics used in the Russia-Ukraine war toconfront Hezbollah drones. According to the report, the systems rely onrotating barbed-wire mechanisms designed to cut fiber-optic cables used in someHezbollah drones in an effort to reduce their operational effectiveness.

“The Israeli plans also include integrating radar systemswith defensive networks and interceptor drones to strengthen detection andresponse capabilities against aerial attacks.”

The report revealed that “tens of thousands of fragmentationrounds” have arrived to be distributed among Israeli forces operating inLebanon as part of measures aimed at improving protection against drone attacksduring field operations.

Earlier, Israeli media outlets stated that the Israeli militaryis facing difficulties countering drones launched by Hezbollah as cross-borderhostilities intensified in southern Lebanon.

In recent weeks, Hezbollah has intensified its use of FPV (first-person view) dronesin attacks against Israeli forces deployed in several areas of southernLebanon. Videos released by the group show the drones targeting Israelisoldiers and military vehicles, while official Israeli figures indicate asignificant rise in casualties linked to Hezbollah drone attacks.

Shafaq News- Beirut

An agreement between Iran and the United States thatincludes ending Israeli hostilities in Lebanon could be the strongest avenuefor halting the conflict, Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem stated onTuesday, urging Lebanese authorities to withdraw from direct negotiations withIsrael.

In a message addressed to Hezbollah leaders, unit officials,and fighters, Qassem said the group was confronting “an Israeli-Americanaggression” aimed at subordinating Lebanon and turning it into part of “GreaterIsrael,” reaffirming that the group will not return to the conditions thatexisted before March 2.

“We will not submit or surrender, and we’ll continueresponding to attacks and violations.”

Qassem added that responsibility for negotiations aimed atachieving Lebanon’s sovereign objectives remains with the Lebanese state, expressingHezbollah’s readiness to cooperate with Lebanese authorities to achieve “fivepriorities” which are: ending Israeli military operations against Lebanon byland, sea, and air; securing the withdrawal of Israeli forces from occupiedLebanese territory; deploying the Lebanese army south of the Litani River;securing the release of detainees; ensuring the return of displaced residentsto their towns and villages; and reconstruction efforts.

“Direct negotiations grant pure gains to Israel and amountto free concessions by the Lebanese government,” he said, noting that issuesrelated to Hezbollah’s weapons, the “resistance movement,” and Lebanon’sinternal political arrangements should remain domestic matters. “Once Lebanonachieves the five stated objectives, the country could organize its internalaffairs through a national security strategy,” he stressed, referring toremarks made previously by Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in his inauguraladdress.

Shafaq News- Tehran

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) expanded on Tuesday theoperational scope of the Strait of Hormuz to include additional coastal andinland areas, as tensions rise over potential US military action againstTehran.

Mohammad Akbarzadeh, political assistant to the IRGC commander, noted thatthe expanded zone now covers the coasts of Jask and Sirri, along with areasbeyond the main islands, describing the region as carrying greater strategicimportance.

Earlier today, CNN reported that US President Donald Trump is increasinglyweighing military options against Iran, as frustration builds inside the WhiteHouse over stalled negotiations and ongoing tensions in the strategic maritimecorridor.

Meanwhile, Ibrahim Rezaei, spokesperson for the Iranian parliament’sNational Security and Foreign Policy Committee, indicated that Tehran couldmove to raise uranium enrichment to 90% in the event of a new US strike, addingthat parliament is set to review the option.

یکی از گزینه‌های ایران در صورت حمله مجدد می‌تواند غنی‌سازی ۹۰ درصد باشد. در مجلس بررسی می‌کنیم.

— ابراهیم رضایی (@EbrahimRezaei14) May 12, 2026

Shafaq News- Tehran

Any United Nations resolution on the Strait of Hormuzthat does not acknowledge for US military aggressions, sanctions, and pressureagainst Iran will be rejected, Tehran signalled on Tuesday, underlining itsclaim of a legitimate right to defend security and vital interests in thestrategic maritime passage.

In a press conference, Iranian Deputy Foreign GharibabadiKazem accused the United States and Israel ofplaying a direct role in fueling tensions in the region, arguing that a narrowfocus on freedom of navigation while overlooking broader regional dynamicswould produce a “biased and politicized” outcome.

“The core issue is not merely the passage of ships in isolation,” headded. “The problem is that some countries are attempting to redefine theconsequences of their unlawful actions through the language of theinternational system,” pointing out that such an approach would neither reducetensions nor strengthen maritime security.

The escalation began after US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran, prompting Tehran to impose restrictions on US- and Israeli-linkedshipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Washington later enforced anaval blockade targeting Iranian ports, with US President Donald Trump DonaldTrump describing it as “more effective than the bombing.”        

Shafaq News- Middle East

The Israeli military is facing difficulties counteringdrones launched by Hezbollah movement as cross-border hostilities intensifiedin southern Lebanon, Israeli media outlets reported on Monday.

Israel’s Kan broadcaster said Israeli forces operatinginside Lebanon were coming under heavy fire from attack drones and rockets,while Channel 13 noted that the Israeli military had distributed “fishingnets” to troops after failing to find an effective solution against the drones. Channel 14 described the situation as part of a “policy of equations” betweenIsrael and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

In recent weeks, Hezbollah has intensified its use of FPV(first-person view) drones in attacks against Israeli forces deployed inseveral areas of southern Lebanon. Videos released by the group show the dronestargeting Israeli soldiers and military vehicles, while official Israelifigures indicate a significant rise in casualties linked to Hezbollah droneattacks.

Shafaq News- Damascus

Two Syrian soldiers were killed andseveral others wounded on Monday after unidentified gunmen targeted a militarytransport bus in the countryside of al-Hasakah province, northeastern Syria.

In a statement carried by state-run SANA, the Syrian Defense Ministry said the bus came under fire west of theal-Aliyah silos, without providing further details on the number of wounded orthe nature of the incident.

إدارة الإعلام والاتصال في وزارة الدفاع لـ سانا: استشهاد اثنين من جنود الجيش العربي السوري وإصابة آخرين، جراء استهداف غادر من قبل مجهولين لباص مبيت غرب صوامع العالية بريف الحسكة.#سانا pic.twitter.com/oVWrMdFBb1

— الوكالة العربية السورية للأنباء - سانا (@Sana__gov) May 11, 2026

Shafaq News correspondent affirmedthat the injured were transferred to Ras al-Ain Hospital following the incidenton the M4 highway.

Shafaq News- Beirut

The Israeli army is preparing to expand its groundoperations in Lebanon amid “continued Hezbollahviolations,” Israel’s Channel 12 reported on Monday, as airstrikes andartillery shelling intensified across southern Lebanon and the western Beqaa.

An Israeli military helicopter also experienced atechnical malfunction during an operation to evacuate wounded troops fromsouthern Lebanon. Israeli media suggested that a system allegedly deployed byHezbollah fighters against drones may have contributed to the malfunction,forcing the aircraft to remain grounded until recovery teams secured it. However,the army denied that the helicopter “came under enemy fire.”

מוקדם יותר היום, במהלך פעילות של חיל האוויר לפינוי פצועים בדרום לבנון, אחד המסוקים נחת במרחב החילוץ ללא יכולת להמריא מחדש בעקבות תקלה טכנית.מסוק נוסף הוזנק לפינוי הפצועים.הצוותים הטכניים של חיל האוויר תיקנו את התקלה. המסוק המריא מהמרחב בבטחה.המסוק לא נפגע מאש אויב

— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) May 11, 2026

Lebanese media reported continued Israeli strikestargeting multiple areas in the Nabatieh, Tyre, Bint Jbeil, and western Beqaadistricts, including artillery shelling and drone attacks.

In the town of Zibdine, a drone strike reportedlykilled two people while they were distributing bread to residents using amunicipal vehicle. Another airstrike in the southern town of Abba killed a78-year-old woman and her 11-year-old grandson after the house they were incollapsed, while four other civilians, including the boy’s mother, were wounded.

مراسل الجديد: غارتان اسرائيليتان استهدفتا بلدة جرجوع قضاء النبطية pic.twitter.com/XtclAVVV09

— Al Jadeed News (@ALJADEEDNEWS) May 11, 2026

Lebanese authorities have recorded more than 8,500Israeli raids since March 2, which, according to the Health Ministry, havekilled 2,869 people and injured 8,730 others, including women and children.

Hezbollah, meanwhile, said its fighters targeted anIsraeli Merkava tank in the town of Reshaf with a “suicide drone,” claiming adirect hit. The group characterized the attack as “a response to Israeliceasefire violations and strikes on southern Lebanese villages that causedcivilian casualties.”

The group’s fighters, it added, launched asurface-to-air missile at an Israeli military drone over the Tyre area, citing Israeliviolations of the Lebanese airspace.

الإعلام الحربي ينشر مشاهد لعملية استهداف آليات تابعة لجيش الاحتلال الإسرائيلي، أثناء محاولتها التقدم باتجاه بلدة بيوت السيّاد جنوبي #لبنان، بالأسلحة المناسبة.#الميادين_لبنان pic.twitter.com/eaqWz20ppq

— الميادين لبنان (@mayadeenlebanon) May 11, 2026

On the Israeli side, the army confirmed the death of asoldier in a drone explosion targeting forces near the Manara border area,raising the number of Israeli troops killed since March 2 to 18.

ShafaqNews- Beirut

Israel onMonday ordered residents of nine towns in southern Lebanon to evacuate, linkingthe move to imminent air and artillery operations targeting Hezbollah positionsin the area.

Accordingto Avichay Adraee, spokesperson for the Israeli Army, the evacuation warningcovered al-Rihan (Jezzine), Jarjouh, Kfar Roummane, al-Nemiriyeh, Arabsalim,Jemjim, Mashghara, Qaliya in Western Bekaa, and Harouf.

#عاجل ‼️انذار عاجل الى سكان لبنان المتواجدين في البلدات والقرى التالية: الريحان (جزين), جرجوع, کفر رمان, النميرية, عربصاليم, جميجمة, مشغرة, قلايا (البقاع الغربي), حاروف🔸في ضوء قيام حزب الله الارهابي بخرق اتفاق وقف اطلاق النار يضطر جيش الدفاع على العمل ضده بقوة. جيش الدفاع لا… pic.twitter.com/ySj1xymiiD

— افيخاي ادرعي (@AvichayAdraee) May 11, 2026

Lebanesemedia outlets counted nine strikes on Yuhmor al-Shaqif, Toul, and Choukine.Additional raids hit Aaba in the Nabatieh district, along with 13 separateattacks recorded since the morning across several parts of the same district.No casualties were reported, though extensive material damage was documented.

📌غارة على كفرمان قضاء النبطية pic.twitter.com/wjuQQee8Ep

— Al Jadeed News (@ALJADEEDNEWS) May 11, 2026

AnIsraeli drone attack on Serbin was followed by another assault on Yater,resulting in the death of one person. Operations were still ongoing at the timeof writing.

غارات وقصف لبلدات في قضاءي بنت جبيل ومرجعيون وسقوط شهيد في ياطر https://t.co/PNNHwY4qnh

— National News Agency (@NNALeb) May 11, 2026

Lebaneseauthorities have logged more than 8,500 Israeli raids since March 2, which,according to Health Ministry figures, have killed 2,846 people and injured8,693 others, including women and children.

Hezbollah,meanwhile, stated it has responded to “repeated Israeli ceasefire violations”with a swarm drone assault on Israeli forces positioned inside a house in thevillage of al-Taybeh, claiming “direct hits.” In separate statements, the groupdetailed a second drone attack against the same force, which led to evacuationsof casualties under fire. A third operation targeted a supporting Israeli unitin the same area, after which Israeli helicoptersreportedly intervened to evacuate wounded personnel under heavy smoke cover.

The groupalso noted launching rockets at a gathering of Israeli vehicles and soldiersbetween Wadi al-Ayoun and the village of Serbin.

On theIsraeli side, the Army confirmed the death of a soldier in a drone explosiontargeting forces in the Manara area along the Lebanese border, raising thetotal number of Israeli soldiers killed since March 2 to 18.

Shafaq News- Tehran

Iran on Monday executed a man convicted of spying for the US CentralIntelligence Agency (CIA) and Israel’s Mossad intelligence service, thejudiciary-affiliated Mizan News reported.

Judicial documents cited by the outlet indicated that ErfanShakourzadeh, also known as the “satellite spy,” cooperated with the twointelligence services in exchange for money and a US passport. He was foundguilty of transmitting sensitive information, including lists of employees anddetails of ongoing projects. The cooperation unfolded in three stages, with twoinvolving Mossad and one involving the CIA.

عرفان شکورزاده متخصصی که تلاش داشت اطلاعات حوزه ماهواره‌ای ایران را در اختیار موساد و سیا تبدیل قرار دهد.پخش مستند کامل اعترافات و اقدامات گسترده شکورزاده علیه امینت ملی مردم ایران امشب از خبر ۲۰:۳۰ رسانه ملیhttps://t.co/Exeqq95bdw pic.twitter.com/lHqOS997wR

— خبرگزاری میزان (@MizanNewsAgency) May 11, 2026

Iran frequently discloses arrests and executions of individuals accusedof spying, particularly in cases linked to foreign intelligence services. OnMay 2, authorities executed two men after convicting them of working withIsrael’s Mossad and plotting an attack on key military sites in Tehran.

Shafaq News- Tehran

Iran has linked any broader understanding with Washington to ending hostilities in Lebanon*, treating it as a non-negotiable “red line,” and easing restrictions on its oil exports, according to Tasnim News Agency.

The response also calls for guarantees ensuring an end to military operations before advancing toward wider arrangements. Economically, Iran demanded the removal of restrictions imposed by the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) on its oil sector, alongside the release of frozen Iranian assets abroad.

The proposal additionally includes recognition of Iran’s role in managing the Strait of Hormuz within future maritime and security understandings.

According to the agency, Tehran proposed an immediate halt to the war once an agreement is announced, followed by a 30-day phase of technical and legal negotiations. Iran also suggested a “reciprocal steps” mechanism designed to test Washington’s willingness to implement commitments before moving to a final agreement.

Indirect communication between Tehran and Washington continues through written exchanges carried via Pakistani channels despite ongoing regional tensions.

Read more: Force without a finish line: Iran is losing the war, the US is losing the endgame

*Lebanon’s Health Ministry said the cumulative toll from Israeli attacks since March 2 has reached 2,846 killed and 8,693 wounded. Lebanese Information Minister Paul Morcos said authorities documented 818 airstrikes and 270 demolition operations between April 17 and May 8.

Shafaq News- Washington/ Tehran

Iran’s formal response to the latest US proposal for ending the regional war failed to satisfy key American demands over Tehran’s nuclear program and stockpile of highly enriched uranium, according to a report published Sunday by The Wall Street Journal.

Citing informed sources, the newspaper indicated that Tehran submitted a multi-page response that included several counterproposals but stopped short of accepting core US conditions tied to long-term nuclear guarantees.

According to the report, Iran proposed diluting part of its highly enriched uranium stockpile while transferring the remaining material to a third country other than the United States.

Tehran also suggested linking a gradual reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to the lifting of the US maritime blockade on Iranian ports, alongside a broader ceasefire arrangement.

The report added that Iran requested guarantees ensuring the return of transferred uranium if negotiations collapse in the future.

Iran also expressed willingness to suspend uranium enrichment for a period shorter than the 20-year freeze reportedly sought by Washington, while firmly rejecting any dismantling of its nuclear facilities.

Read more: Iran is losing the war, the US is losing the endgame

Shafaq News- Washington

US President Donald Trump on Sunday accused Iran of “playing games” with the United States and the international community for nearly five decades, as Washington reviews Tehran’s latest ceasefire response delivered through Pakistani mediation.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump claimed Iran had relied on “delay, delay, delay” tactics for 47 years, while sharply criticizing former President Barack Obama over the 2015 nuclear agreement.

Trump alleged that Obama provided Iran with “hundreds of billions of dollars” and accused his administration of transferring $1.7 billion in cash to Tehran, describing the move as giving Iran “a major and very powerful new lease on life.”

He further claimed Iran used the period to strengthen itself while continuing regional activities hostile to US interests, adding that “they will be laughing no longer.”

The remarks came hours after US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz stated that Iran “cannot hold the world economy hostage” through restrictions on the Strait of Hormuz.

Waltz confirmed that the US administration is currently reviewing Iran’s latest response, while indicating that Trump continues to give diplomacy “every opportunity” before considering renewed military action.

Earlier today, Iran sent its response to the latest US proposal aimed at ending the war in the region through a Pakistani mediator. The proposed plan currently focuses on “ending the war in the region,” without providing further details about the contents of Tehran’s response.

Shafaq News- Middle East

An explosive-laden drone crashed in the Margaliot area of northern Israel on Sunday, sparking a fire near the Lebanese border, according to Israeli authorities and the military.

Israel’s Fire and Rescue Authority said the blaze erupted in the Upper Galilee settlement after the drone impact. At the same time, Israel’s Home Front Command reported that sirens sounded in the towns of Zar’it and Shomera following the detection of a drone infiltration from Lebanon.

The Israeli military stated that interceptor missiles were launched toward drones operating in areas where Israeli forces are active in southern Lebanon.

Israeli media also reported that two interceptor missiles exploded over the western sector of southern Lebanon amid the ongoing security developments along the border.

The escalation comes as Lebanon’s Health Ministry said the cumulative toll from Israeli attacks since March 2 has reached 2,846 killed and 8,693 wounded. Lebanese Information Minister Paul Morcos said authorities documented 818 airstrikes and 270 demolition operations between April 17 and May 8, adding that the Lebanese delegation intends to use the figures during upcoming talks to press for an end to Israeli attacks.

Shafaq News- Tehran/ Washington

Disagreements persist between Tehran and Washington, afterIran sent its response through Pakistani mediators to the latest American plan toend the Middle East war, US media outlets reported on Sunday.

Strait of Hormuz

Tehran views its control over the Strait of Hormuz as amajor source of leverage in negotiations with Washington, which is not acceptingIran’s control over the waterway, and despite international opposition, the UnitedStates imposed a “tight” blockade on Iranian ports, presenting the measure as akey tool to pressure Tehran toward an agreement.

Uranium Enrichment

The United States maintains that Iran seeks to develop anuclear weapon, an accusation Tehran denies, insisting its nuclear activitiesare intended solely for peaceful purposes.

Washington wants Iran to suspend enrichment activities for20 years and surrender its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, demands Tehranrejects while defending what it describes as its right to enrichment.

Ballistic Missiles

Before the war, Washington had demanded limits on the rangeof Iranian ballistic missiles to prevent them from reaching Israel, though itremains unclear whether the US will continue insisting on such restrictionsafter claiming recent military operations weakened Iran’s missile stockpile.Tehran, however, continues to reject negotiations over its ballistic missileprogram, arguing that its conventional weapons capabilities are non-negotiableand maintaining that it still possesses a large missile arsenal.

Sanctions and Frozen Assets

Tehran is seeking relief from US sanctions, the release offrozen Iranian assets abroad, and compensation for war-related damages, thoughthere appears to be little indication Washington is prepared to acceptcompensation demands. It also remains unclear whether Iran will continueinsisting on the issue as a condition for a broader agreement.

Hezbollah

Iran insists that any peace agreement must include anIsraeli halt to the war against Hezbollah in Lebanon, a condition Israelrejects, as attention turns to how the US administration will respond toTehran’s latest reply to the proposal.

Read more: Force without a finish line: Iran is losing the war, the US is losing the endgame

Shafaq News- Damascus

Four people were injured on Sunday after an explosionbelieved to have been caused by an improvised explosive device planted aboard apublic transportation bus in Damascus’ al-Wurood neighborhood, a securitysource told Shafaq News.

The blast damaged nearby shops and surroundingproperty. Syrian security forces cordoned off the area and opened aninvestigation into the incident.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Last Thursday, ISIS claimed a separate bombing inDamascus that killed Sheikh Farhan al-Mansour, preacher of the Sayyida Zeinabshrine in Syria.

Shafaq News- Tehran

Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, instructed thecountry’s armed forces to continue confronting “enemies” with strength anddetermination, Iranian state television said on Sunday.

The broadcaster clarifies that the remarks came during abriefing presented to Khamenei by the commander of Khatam al-Anbiya CentralHeadquarters, the body responsible for coordinating Iran’s military operations,on the readiness of the Iranian armed forces during the current period. “The Iranianforces remain on high alert and that any mistake or aggression would be metwith a rapid and decisive response,” the commander vowed to Khamenei, addingthat the military had prepared plans to counter “hostile actions by theAmericans and Zionists.”

Earlier, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) andthe country’s aerospace forces warned regional states against supporting the USmilitary.

Iranian Armed Forces spokesperson Brigadier General AbolfazlShekarchi said the initiative is in the hands of the armed forces of Iran,describing the country’s military capabilities as being at a very high level.

Separately, the naval command of the IRGC threatened totarget a US facility in the region and “enemy vessels” if Iranian oil tankersor commercial ships came under attack.

IRGC Aerospace Force commander Brigadier General Seyed MajidMousavi also revealed, “missiles and drones operated by the force were aimed atAmerican targets in the region and enemy ships,” saying that forces wereawaiting launch orders.

Shafaq News- Tehran/ Washington

Iran sent its response to the latest US proposal aimed atending the war in the region through a Pakistani mediator, Iran’s state newsagency reported on Sunday.

The proposed plan currently focuses on “ending the war inthe region,” without providing further details about the contents of Tehran’sresponse.

Last Wednesday, US President Donald Trump said “very goodtalks” had taken place with Iran over the previous 24 hours, adding that a dealremained highly possible.

US media outlets reported that US-Iran talks could resumenext week in Islamabad, as Iran’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that messagesbetween the two sides continue to be exchanged through the Pakistani mediator.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei on Sundayinstructed the country’s armed forces to continue confronting the “enemies”with strength and determination, according to Iranian state television.

Earlier, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)warned regional states against supporting the US military, while threateningattacks on American facilities, enemy vessels, and targets across the region ifIranian interests come under attack.

Read more: Force without a finish line: Iran is losing the war, the US is losing the endgame