Samy Magdy

U.S. President Donald Trump says an agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz could be reached within days as Iranian and Omani negotiators finalize a draft deal. The temporary arrangement could restore shipping, reduce pressure on global energy prices and revive U.S.-Iran talks on Tehran’s nuclear program, but Washington opposes any plan granting Iran control of the waterway or allowing it to charge fees. Uncertainty remains because the agreement requires approval from Iran’s Supreme Leader and possible U.S. acceptance. Attacks on shipping by Houthi forces continued in the Red Sea, while Israel and Hezbollah’s fragile ceasefire deteriorated amid Israeli evacuation warnings and strikes in southern Lebanon.

Palestinians held a mass funeral in Gaza City for 112 victims whose remains were recovered from a residential block destroyed by an Israeli airstrike in November 2023. The recovered remains included 40 children, while 157 people from the site are still missing. A fragile ceasefire has enabled rescue teams to search parts of devastated Gaza, but thousands remain buried across the territory. The war’s death toll continues to rise amid alleged ceasefire violations, stalled negotiations, widespread displacement and severe humanitarian conditions. Hamas has not disarmed, while Israel continues to control much of Gaza and has resisted a full withdrawal.

A cargo ship reported being struck by an unknown projectile northeast of Al Khasab, Oman, in the Strait of Hormuz, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Center. The incident occurred amid an effective closure of the waterway, which previously carried a significant share of global oil and gas shipments. Donald Trump said the United States and Iran had resumed talks aimed at ending the conflict, while Iranian spokesperson Esmail Baghaei denied that negotiations with Washington were taking place and said discussions with Oman focused on safe navigation. The conflicting accounts leave the prospects for de-escalation and the resumption of shipping uncertain.

Donald Trump threatened continued and intensified U.S. strikes on Iran, while White House officials accused Tehran of violating a truce and attacking commercial ships. Kuwait reported responding to Iranian drone attacks, and a tanker was damaged in the Strait of Hormuz. Israel carried out deadly strikes in Gaza shortly after Hamas said it would disarm under a U.S.-brokered ceasefire framework, though Israeli opposition and other obstacles remain. Elsewhere, Houthi threats diverted Saudi shipping, Israel destroyed a Hezbollah-linked tunnel network near Beaufort Castle in southern Lebanon, and Lebanese-Israeli negotiations on withdrawal and disarmament were set to resume.

Hamas says it will begin disarming under a U.S.-brokered Gaza deal that also calls for Israel to halt strikes and withdraw, but it conditions the later surrender of heavy weapons on the establishment of a Palestinian state, which Israel’s government rejects. The ceasefire process remains stalled amid mutual accusations of violations. Elsewhere, Iran reported attacks on oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, while Kuwait said it intercepted Iranian drones. Saudi Arabia proposed a 14-country alliance to protect maritime routes and energy corridors amid wider regional disruption.

Six Iranian advisers were reportedly killed after the United States and Saudi Arabia launched joint strikes on Tehran-backed militias in eastern Iraq, following an Iranian attack on Jordan’s Muwaffaq Salti Air Base and accusations of militia drone attacks on Saudi oil facilities. Iraqi officials said at least 20 fighters died, while Iraq’s president and National Security Council condemned the strikes as an unacceptable violation of sovereignty. The escalation led to the postponement of Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s visit to Saudi Arabia and pushed Brent crude prices up 3.1% to $84.58 a barrel as mediators sought to revive a ceasefire.

Mediators led by Qatar and Pakistan reportedly see significant progress toward restoring U.S.-Iran negotiations and an interim ceasefire after three days without reported attacks. Iran says there are no direct talks with Washington but is working with Oman on managing shipping through the still-closed Strait of Hormuz, while the U.S. maintains a naval blockade. Disruptions in the Strait and threats by Iran-backed Houthis near the Red Sea are weighing on shipping, energy supplies and prices. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu plans to meet Donald Trump, while Iran is also condemning Ukraine over a strike on an Iranian vessel in the Caspian Sea.

The Houthis said they launched missiles and drones at Aramco facilities in Saudi Arabia in retaliation for Saudi-led strikes on Yemen’s Hodeida province. The escalation follows Houthi attacks on Saudi-linked oil tankers and threats to close the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a major global shipping chokepoint. Saudi Arabia said it targeted military sites connected to threats against commercial vessels, while Iran called for diplomacy. No new U.S. strikes on Iran were reported overnight, but tensions around the Red Sea and Strait of Hormuz remain high, raising further risks to regional security, energy infrastructure and international trade.

Israeli airstrikes killed about a dozen people in Gaza over two days, including a woman and six police officers at a station in Jabaliya, three members of a family in central Gaza, a man in Khan Younis and a child near Rafah. Israel said four of the Jabaliya officers were Hamas militants but provided no supporting evidence, while Hamas said the police force maintains law and order. The strikes occurred despite a fragile ceasefire that began in October; Gaza’s Health Ministry says 1,123 people have been killed since it took effect, while five Israeli soldiers have also died. The broader war, triggered by Hamas’s 7 October 2023 attack, has killed more than 73,264 Palestinians according to the ministry.

An Israeli strike in Gaza killed Palestinian aid official Mohamed al-Wahidi, two children and taxi driver Ahmed Daghmush shortly before a planned public screening of the Egypt-Argentina World Cup match. The Israeli military said the operation targeted a Hamas militant and was investigating whether Daghmush was the intended target, while Shifa Hospital director Mohamed Abu Selmiya said the driver was not known to have militant affiliations. The deaths turned a planned communal celebration into another reminder of civilian casualties during ongoing Israeli strikes despite an October truce.

An Israeli strike on a car in Gaza City's Sabra neighborhood killed Egyptian Committee aid official Mohamed al-Wahidi, two children and the driver, Ahmed Daghmush, shortly before a World Cup match that al-Wahidi had helped organize public screenings for. Israel said the strike targeted a Hamas militant and that al-Wahidi was not the intended target, while a Shifa Hospital official said the driver was not known to have militant ties. The Egyptian Committee provides relief to Palestinians in Gaza, and Egyptian coach Hossam Hassan used the tournament to call for international support for Palestinians. The report also details continuing casualties since an October truce and the broader death toll from the Israel-Hamas war.

Egyptian fans gathered in Cairo coffee houses and across the country to watch Egypt’s historic World Cup round-of-16 match against Argentina. Although Egypt lost 2–3, supporters celebrated the team’s first-ever advancement to the knockout stages and praised coach Hossam Hassan and star Mohamed Salah. Hassan’s public support for the Palestinian people resonated strongly in Egypt and among Palestinians watching from shelters in Gaza. President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi also hailed the team’s achievement.

Hamas says it is dissolving its Gaza government and transferring day-to-day administration to a Cairo-based technocratic committee backed by the United Nations and the Board of Peace. The group has not agreed to disarm or surrender security control, prompting Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar to dismiss the move as an attempt to preserve Hamas’s influence. Committee chair Ali Shaath said effective governance requires a single legal authority and unified security apparatus. Disputes over disarmament and the second phase of the ceasefire remain unresolved, while Israeli strikes and militant attacks continue despite reduced violence.

Egypt coach Hossam Hassan waved a Palestinian flag and dedicated his team's World Cup victory over Australia to the Egyptian and Palestinian peoples. FIFA said the display was permitted because the Palestine Football Association is a member, so no action would be taken against Hassan. The gesture went viral amid the continuing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Egypt’s football coach Hossam Hassan waved a Palestinian flag after Egypt’s World Cup win over Australia, dedicating the victory to Egyptian and Palestinian people amid the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. His gesture drew strong public reaction and echoed similar actions by other athletes. FIFA confirmed that Palestinian flags are permitted at the tournament, despite its prior restrictions on political expressions such as the 2022 armband ban and limitations on Iran’s pre-revolutionary flag.

Archaeologists have uncovered a well-preserved fourth-century Byzantine residential city at Egypt’s Dakhla Oasis, including planned streets, a basilica, watchtowers, homes, food-production facilities, coins and inscribed pottery fragments. A separate excavation at Marina el-Alamein near Alexandria found 18 ancient tombs, bringing the site’s total to 48, along with burial artefacts, a granite sarcophagus, a plaster sphinx and gold pieces associated with funerary beliefs. The discoveries offer insight into daily life in Byzantine and Greco-Roman Egypt and are expected to support the country’s recovering tourism industry.

An Israeli airstrike on a tent sheltering displaced people in Deir al-Balah killed three Palestinians, including an 8-year-old child, and wounded another person. Israel said the target was Zaher Abu Salem, an Islamic Jihad member allegedly involved in the October 7, 2023 attack. The strike occurred during an October ceasefire that has reduced heavy fighting but has not stopped Israeli airstrikes or militant attacks. Gaza health officials report that more than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire, while five Israeli soldiers have also died.

Al-Qaqa Ibn Antar, known online as the “Spider-Man of Yemen,” died after falling 120 metres while climbing the sheer walls of the Hardah Dam volcanic crater in Yemen’s Dhale province without safety equipment. Rescue teams recovered his body from beneath the crater lake after a complex four-hour operation. Authorities released footage of the fall and urged climbers to follow safety protocols and use protective gear.

Gaza’s Health Ministry says the Palestinian death toll since the Hamas-led 7 October 2023 attack has reached 73,001, with more than 173,200 people wounded. The report says Israeli strikes continue despite a fragile US-brokered ceasefire, while both sides accuse each other of violations. It notes that UN agencies generally regard the ministry’s records as reliable, although they do not distinguish between civilian and militant casualties, and records Israel’s claim that its forces seek to avoid civilian deaths.

Gaza’s Health Ministry says the Palestinian death toll since the war began has reached 73,001, with more than 173,200 people wounded. Israeli strikes have continued despite a US-brokered ceasefire agreed in October, including an attack in Khan Younis that killed two Palestinians. Israel says it targets militants and responds to ceasefire violations, while Hamas and Israel accuse each other of breaching the agreement. The deal’s provisions have stalled over Hamas’s refusal to disarm and Israel’s continued military presence, although both sides say the ceasefire remains in effect.

Twelve alleged victims of torture and sexual violence during Sudan’s war have asked Kenyan prosecutors to investigate and charge 10 members of the Rapid Support Forces, some of whom may be in Kenya. Legal Action Worldwide argues that Kenya can prosecute the alleged crimes under its International Crimes Act, while saying Sudan’s justice system is inaccessible and the International Criminal Court’s jurisdiction does not cover Khartoum. The RSF, which has fought Sudan’s military since April 2023, has been accused by human rights organizations and UN experts of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide, particularly in Darfur. The complaint could become the first effort to prosecute RSF members outside Sudan and comes amid diplomatic sensitivities after Kenyan President William Ruto hosted RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.

Victims of alleged torture and sexual violence by Sudan's Rapid Support Forces have filed the first complaint outside Sudan seeking prosecution of RSF members, including some believed to be living in Kenya. Legal Action Worldwide is urging Kenya to investigate under its International Crimes Act, arguing that Sudan's justice system is inaccessible and that the International Criminal Court lacks jurisdiction over crimes committed around Khartoum. The filing comes amid broader accusations that the RSF committed war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide, while Sudan's war has killed tens of thousands and created a major humanitarian crisis.

Israel carried out strikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs after Hezbollah allegedly fired toward northern Israel, despite a recently renewed ceasefire. The attacks were described as targeting Hezbollah command centers, with no immediate reports of casualties. Fighting continues across southern Lebanon as Hezbollah rejects the U.S.-brokered arrangement and Iran demands that any broader truce include Lebanon. Pakistan is attempting to revive negotiations between Iran and the United States, while U.S. forces have intercepted Iranian drones and missiles near the Strait of Hormuz. The conflict continues to threaten regional stability, global energy supplies and the wider world economy.

Iran launched missiles and drones toward Bahrain and Kuwait, while the U.S. struck Iranian coastal surveillance sites, further testing a fragile ceasefire. Iran said the U.S. attacks violated the truce, and Washington said its strikes were defensive responses to threats against maritime traffic and Gulf allies. Negotiations to extend the ceasefire and resume talks on Iran’s nuclear program remain uncertain as President Donald Trump presses for a deal. Continued fighting involving Israel, Lebanon and Hezbollah, along with disruption around the Strait of Hormuz, threatens regional stability and global energy supplies.

Seven-month-old Sam Fahd Abu Haikal died after Israeli soldiers fired at the vehicle carrying him and his parents in Tel Rumeida near Hebron, according to Palestinian officials and WAFA. His mother and father, Fahd Abdul Aziz Abu Haikal, were also wounded. Israel’s military said troops fired after perceiving the vehicle as accelerating toward them, but an initial inquiry determined that the occupants were uninvolved civilians and said the incident remained under review. The shooting occurred amid intensified Israeli operations in the West Bank following the Hamas-led 7 October attack and Israel’s subsequent war in Gaza. The report also cites United Nations figures showing more than 1,000 Palestinians killed in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since the conflict began, and Yesh Din data indicating that Israeli soldiers are rarely penalized for alleged harm to Palestinians.

Iranian drones damaged Kuwait International Airport and killed at least one person, while missiles and drones aimed at Kuwait, Bahrain and U.S. forces were intercepted. The U.S. responded with strikes on an Iranian military control station on Qeshm Island, prompting Iran to condemn the action and claim retaliation. Iranian-linked media reported that Tehran had halted communication with ceasefire mediators unless the truce in Lebanon was enforced, while Donald Trump said talks were continuing. Israel’s expanding campaign against Hezbollah is complicating negotiations, and continued disruption around the Strait of Hormuz and the blockade of Iranian ports are keeping global fuel prices elevated.

Archaeologists have uncovered a marble head of Aphrodite, remains of a Roman basilica, Pharaonic inscriptions, coin-making molds and other artefacts at Ehnasiya in Egypt’s Beni Suef province. Additional funerary furniture, cosmetic tools and possible gold earrings were found in Cairo’s Matariya district. The discoveries illuminate the area’s religious, political and commercial importance across ancient Egyptian, Greek and Roman periods and form part of government efforts to strengthen tourism, which has been recovering from political unrest, the coronavirus pandemic and the economic effects of the Russia-Ukraine war.

Imad Haroun Ishtayeh, a 26-year-old Palestinian from Salem near Nablus, was shot and killed by Israeli forces at a barrier in al-Ram while attempting to cross from the West Bank into Israel to find work. His family said financial hardship and the collapse of his poultry business had driven him to make the crossing. Access to Israeli jobs has been sharply restricted since the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 attack and the ensuing Gaza war, contributing to rising West Bank unemployment. Palestinian labor officials say around 50 workers have since been killed by Israeli fire and more than 38,000 arrested, although many were later released.

Human Rights Watch accused the United Arab Emirates of training hundreds of Colombian mercenaries before they were deployed to fight alongside Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces. The group said the mercenaries operated drones, artillery and armored vehicles and participated in attacks, including the RSF’s October capture of el-Fasher, where at least 6,000 people were reportedly killed. The UAE denied authorizing recruitment, training or financing of foreign fighters, while HRW urged governments including the European Union to suspend military cooperation and arms sales to Abu Dhabi. The allegations add to international accusations that the UAE is supporting an RSF force accused of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.

The United States and Iran appear to be nearing a deal to end the war, with provisions that could halt fighting involving Israel and Hezbollah, reopen the Strait of Hormuz and ease restrictions on Iranian oil exports. Iran would reportedly surrender its stockpile of highly enriched uranium during a 60-day negotiating period in exchange for potential sanctions relief and access to frozen funds. Major issues remain unresolved, including Iran’s future uranium-enrichment rights, its missile program, Israel’s freedom to conduct military actions, the presence of U.S. forces in the region and compensation for wartime damage.

Donald Trump rejected Iran’s reported ceasefire proposal as “totally unacceptable” after it was conveyed through Pakistani mediators. Tehran’s plan reportedly sought a permanent end to hostilities, including in Lebanon, and guarantees for shipping security, while Washington had proposed ending the war in exchange for rolling back Iran’s nuclear programme. Despite Trump’s criticism, US ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz said diplomacy still had every opportunity, while Iran’s supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei reportedly ordered continued military operations.

Iran has sent its response to a US ceasefire proposal through Pakistani mediators, seeking negotiations aimed at permanently ending the war, including fighting in Lebanon and threats to shipping. Tehran wants to postpone discussions on its nuclear programme, while Washington is seeking the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and limits on Iran’s nuclear activities. The fragile truce was tested by drone incidents involving a ship near Qatar and airspace incursions reported by the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait. Iran says its forces are on full readiness to protect nuclear sites and warns of retaliation against attacks on its vessels. Mediation efforts by Pakistan continue, while the status of Iran’s highly enriched uranium and responsibility for recent maritime attacks remain major unresolved issues.

Israel deported Saif Abukeshek and Thiago Ávila, members of the Global Sumud Flotilla’s steering committee, after detaining them for more than a week following the interception of an international aid convoy. Israel alleged that Abukeshek had links to a terrorist organization and that Ávila had engaged in illegal activity, while Spain and Brazil condemned the detention of their citizens in international waters. The Israeli navy intercepted 22 boats carrying 175 activists, preventing the flotilla from reaching Gaza. The report also describes a separate Israeli strike in Khan Younis that killed at least two people, including a Hamas police officer, amid a fragile ceasefire and continuing violence that Gaza health authorities say has killed at least 850 Palestinians since the truce began.

A tenuous month-old ceasefire between the United States and Iran appeared to hold despite US strikes on two Iranian oil tankers, attacks involving Navy ships and Iranian facilities, and an Iranian-reported strike that killed one sailor. Bahrain announced the arrest of 41 people allegedly affiliated with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, prompting renewed concerns from rights groups about domestic repression. Washington is awaiting Tehran’s response to a proposal involving reopening the Strait of Hormuz and limiting Iran’s nuclear program, while Iran says it is still reviewing the offer and is not responding to deadlines. Russia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar and Pakistan are urging continued diplomacy, as uncertainty also surrounds the public absence and reported health of Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.

Pakistan’s effort to mediate renewed US-Iran negotiations faltered after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi left Islamabad and President Donald Trump canceled the planned trip by US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Trump said Iran had submitted a better proposal and insisted that it must not obtain a nuclear weapon, while Tehran questioned Washington’s commitment to diplomacy after US military actions and a blockade of Iranian ports. Disputes remain over Iran’s nuclear and missile programs, support for regional proxies and control of the Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant share of global oil passes. Separately, an Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire in Lebanon came under renewed strain as both sides exchanged attacks. The conflict has caused thousands of deaths across Iran and Lebanon, while disruptions around the strait have pushed Brent crude prices sharply higher.

A United Nations Panel of Experts report says Libya’s Subul al-Salam Battalion, linked to Khalifa Hifter’s Libyan National Army, helped move Colombian former military personnel, weapons, fuel and vehicle parts into Sudan to support the Rapid Support Forces. Bases and facilities around Kufra allegedly served as transit and logistical hubs, enabling RSF advances near the Libya-Egypt-Sudan border while weakening security in southern Libya. The report also describes Sudanese military airstrikes on Libya-based supply shipments and notes allegations of support for the warring parties from the United Arab Emirates, which denies them. The conflict has killed at least 59,000 people and produced the world’s largest humanitarian crisis.

An Israeli army reservist allegedly shot and killed two Palestinians, including 14-year-old Aws al-Naasan, near a school in al-Mughayyir northeast of Ramallah. Palestinian officials and witnesses said Israeli settlers and soldiers opened fire during a confrontation, while Israel’s military said the gunman was an off-duty reservist and that troops had responded to reports of stone-throwing. The incident occurred amid escalating settler attacks, land seizures and restricted Palestinian access to farmland. Separately, Israeli strikes in Gaza killed at least five Palestinians, including four people at a Hamas-controlled security point and a displaced woman in Beit Lahiya, despite a fragile ceasefire.

Maj. Gen. al-Nour Ahmed Adam, a senior Rapid Support Forces commander, has defected to Sudan’s army along with dozens of fighters and equipment. Army chief Abdel-Fattah Burhan welcomed him and said those who surrender their weapons can join national reconstruction. Reports attribute the defection to disputes over Adam’s failure to receive a command in North Darfur after the RSF captured el-Fasher. The development comes as Sudan’s war enters its fourth year; the conflict has killed at least 59,000 people according to ACLED, though the group says the figure is likely an undercount.

President Donald Trump said U.S. forces seized the Iran-flagged cargo ship Touska near the Strait of Hormuz after it allegedly ignored warnings and attempted to bypass the U.S. blockade. The seizure occurred as U.S. and Iranian negotiators prepared for potentially renewed talks in Pakistan over a fragile ceasefire, Iran’s nuclear program and control of the strait. Iran condemned the blockade as aggression and maintained that ships could not transit while Iranian vessels were barred. The standoff has disrupted commercial shipping, threatened global energy supplies and intensified pressure on the diplomatic process.

Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, arrived in Tehran to help restart US-Iran negotiations before the ceasefire expires. Pakistan is seeking compromise on Iran’s nuclear enrichment, the Strait of Hormuz and compensation for wartime damage, while the United States continues its naval blockade and threatens further sanctions. Regional officials say Washington and Tehran have reached an in-principle agreement to extend the ceasefire, but Iranian military figures remain opposed or have threatened to disrupt regional trade. The conflict continues to cause heavy casualties and economic disruption, while Israel presses its offensive against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon and separate efforts seek an Israeli-Lebanese ceasefire.

Sudan is entering its fourth year of war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, with at least 59,000 people killed, 13 million displaced and more than 19 million facing acute hunger. The RSF’s campaign in Darfur has been linked to mass killings and possible genocide, while both sides have been accused of attacks affecting civilians and health facilities. Sudan is divided between a military-backed government and an RSF-controlled administration, with Egypt supporting the military and the UAE accused of aiding the RSF. Failed ceasefire efforts, dwindling humanitarian resources, rising fuel costs and international attention focused elsewhere have led U.N. officials to describe the conflict as abandoned. Experts warn that continued fighting and foreign involvement could prolong the war and destabilize neighboring countries.

The U.S. military announced a blockade of all Iranian ports after ceasefire talks in Pakistan failed, while allowing vessels traveling between non-Iranian ports to continue through the Strait of Hormuz. The announcement reportedly halted already-reduced commercial traffic and pushed oil prices sharply higher. Iranian officials threatened retaliation, said the strait remained under their control for non-military shipping and warned that military vessels would face force. Negotiations led by JD Vance and Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf broke down over U.S. demands concerning Iran’s nuclear program, uranium enrichment, the strait and Iranian support for regional armed groups. Neither side clarified what would happen when the ceasefire expired on April 22, though Pakistan offered to facilitate further talks.

US Vice President JD Vance and Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf held separate talks with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad as negotiators sought to preserve a fragile ceasefire. Iran demanded an end to Israeli attacks on Hezbollah, relief from sanctions and guarantees against future attacks, while the United States called for restrictions on Iran’s nuclear programme and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Continued Israeli strikes in Lebanon, including attacks that killed at least three people on Saturday, threaten to derail broader negotiations. The conflict has caused thousands of deaths across Iran, Lebanon, Israel and Gulf states, while the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has disrupted energy shipments and pushed Brent crude above $94 a barrel.

The United States, Israel and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire after Donald Trump stepped back from threats against Iran, but major disagreements remain over Iran’s nuclear program, missiles, regional proxies, sanctions and the future of the Strait of Hormuz. Iran proposed continued military management of the waterway and possible transit fees collected with Oman, while Trump indicated that U.S. warships could remain nearby. Israel endorsed the Iran ceasefire but continued fighting Hezbollah in Lebanon, contradicting Pakistan’s broader interpretation of the agreement. Iranian attacks on Gulf states and Israel followed the announcement, while airstrikes and missile alerts continued across the region. The ceasefire’s durability and the prospects for a permanent settlement remain uncertain.

Iranian officials urged young people, students, artists, athletes and professors to form human chains around power plants ahead of Donald Trump’s deadline for restoring shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Trump has threatened attacks on Iranian power plants and bridges, while Israel issued warnings to Iranians amid indications of further strikes. France, New Zealand and the United Nations called for restraint, warning that attacks on civilian and energy infrastructure would violate international law and risk a wider escalation; Trump said he was not concerned about potential war-crimes implications. The report also details Iranian missile attacks toward Saudi Arabia, Israeli and Iranian strikes, damage and casualties across the region, and the growing humanitarian toll.

Iranian officials have urged young people to form human chains around power plants ahead of Donald Trump’s deadline for restoring shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Trump has threatened to bomb Iran’s power plants and bridges if shipping is not fully restored, while France, New Zealand and the United Nations have called for restraint and warned that attacks on civilian infrastructure violate international law. The escalation has included Iranian missile launches toward Saudi Arabia and Israel, alongside Israeli airstrikes on Tehran that reportedly killed at least 15 people in Shahriar and Pardis.

Iran has rejected a proposed ceasefire, insisting instead on a permanent end to the war and guarantees against future U.S. attacks. Iranian diplomat Mojtaba Ferdousi Pour said Tehran no longer trusts the Trump administration after previous U.S. strikes during negotiations. The rejection comes before Donald Trump's deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, while Iran and Oman are reportedly discussing an administrative mechanism for the vital shipping route.

The war involving Iran has disrupted shipping routes, fuel supplies and aid logistics, delaying food, medicine, vaccines and equipment destined for millions of people. Aid organizations report shipment cost increases of up to 25%, rerouting delays of weeks, and supplies stranded in locations including Dubai and India. The disruption is worsening humanitarian emergencies in Sudan, Somalia, Lebanon, Nigeria and Iran, while reduced foreign-aid funding has further weakened response capacity. The World Food Programme warns that a prolonged conflict could leave 45 million additional people acutely hungry, partly because fertilizer shipments through the Strait of Hormuz are threatened. Aid groups are calling for a ceasefire and increased government funding, while the U.S. has announced $50 million in additional assistance for Lebanon.

Arab foreign ministers appointed veteran Egyptian diplomat and former foreign minister Nabil Fahmy as the next secretary-general of the 22-member Arab League. His five-year term begins in July, replacing Ahmed Aboul Gheit. Fahmy was the sole nominee under the longstanding convention that Egypt, the League’s host, selects its leader. The appointment comes amid escalating regional conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States. Fahmy previously served as Egypt’s ambassador to the United States and helped establish the School of Global Affairs and Public Policy at the American University in Cairo.

Egypt has ordered shops, restaurants, malls and cafés nationwide to close at 9 p.m. for a month, alongside reduced street lighting and other energy-saving measures, as the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran drives up oil prices and disrupts shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. The policy has sharply affected Cairo’s nightlife and small businesses, with owners reporting lost peak-hour revenue and layoffs. Some cafés have quietly continued serving customers behind closed doors, while business owners and residents have called for later hours. Tourist areas are exempted, and Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouly says the restrictions are intended to curb oil consumption and avoid further fuel and cooking-gas price increases.

Iran-backed Houthi forces have entered the escalating Iran-Israel war by claiming missile attacks on southern Israel, raising fears that they may again target commercial vessels in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and further disrupt global trade, energy markets and maritime security. The conflict has already closed or threatened key shipping routes, caused thousands of deaths and wounded hundreds of U.S. service members. The United States is reinforcing its regional presence with Marines and airborne troops while proposing a ceasefire tied to reopening the Strait of Hormuz and restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program; Tehran has rejected the proposal and offered counterdemands. Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt are pursuing regional diplomacy, but Iranian officials remain skeptical as fighting continues across Iran, Israel, Lebanon, Iraq and the Gulf.

A Houthi missile attack on southern Israel has raised concerns that the Iran-aligned group could resume attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea. Such attacks could force vessels to avoid the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and take longer, costlier routes around the Cape of Good Hope, further disrupting global trade, oil prices and European natural-gas supplies. The Houthis previously attacked more than 100 merchant vessels during the Gaza war, while U.S. and Israeli strikes targeted Houthi-held areas in Yemen before a deal ended the attacks on Red Sea shipping. Analysts warn that renewed regional escalation could prompt the Houthis to intervene more aggressively.

An Iranian attack involving six ballistic missiles and 29 drones injured at least 15 U.S. troops at Saudi Arabia’s Prince Sultan air base, including five seriously, raising the number of Americans wounded in the war to more than 300. The United States is reinforcing the region with the USS Tripoli, about 2,500 Marines and additional aircraft, while more ships and a Marine expeditionary unit are deploying from San Diego. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. could meet its objectives without ground troops but must prepare for multiple contingencies. The continuing conflict has disrupted air travel and oil exports, driven up fuel prices and intensified pressure on President Donald Trump to resolve Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Israel said it intercepted a missile launched from Yemen, while the Iranian-backed Houthis claimed responsibility, potentially opening a new front in the expanding Middle East war and threatening Red Sea shipping. Israel continued strikes on Iranian missile and nuclear-related facilities, while Iran retaliated against Israel and a Saudi base hosting U.S. troops. Fighting also intensified between Israel and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. The conflict has caused heavy casualties, damaged infrastructure and driven oil prices and U.S. fuel costs higher. Diplomatic efforts involving the United States, Iran, Pakistan, Turkey and the G7 continued alongside a major U.S. troop buildup, while Iran agreed to facilitate humanitarian and agricultural shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.

The United States has sent Iran a 15-point ceasefire proposal through Pakistani intermediaries, reportedly covering sanctions relief, civilian nuclear cooperation, limits on Iran’s nuclear and missile programs, International Atomic Energy Agency monitoring, restrictions on armed-group support, and freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. Pakistani and Egyptian officials said the plan could serve as a basis for negotiations, although Iranian officials remain highly skeptical and Iran denies that talks are underway. The proposal comes as the U.S. deploys additional troops to the Middle East and Iran continues attacks on Israel and regional infrastructure, including an incident that caused a fire at Kuwait International Airport. Disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz have driven up oil prices and raised fears of a global energy crisis.

Libyan authorities are towing the damaged Arctic Metagaz, a Russian liquefied natural gas tanker linked to the sanctioned shadow fleet, to a safe zone off Zuwara after it drifted in the Mediterranean for three weeks. The vessel was reportedly damaged in a suspected Ukrainian naval drone attack near Malta, though Ukraine has not commented, and all 30 crew members were rescued. Libya’s National Oil Corporation is working with Italy’s Eni to prevent a leak and avert an environmental crisis, while the World Wide Fund for Nature warns that the unstable tanker threatens the Mediterranean’s fragile marine ecosystem.

Airstrikes and missile attacks continued across Iran, Israel, Lebanon and Gulf states as the United States and Iran sent mixed signals about possible negotiations to end the war. Pakistan said it was pursuing quiet diplomacy and that Washington had agreed in principle to talks, but Iranian officials denied that negotiations were underway and vowed to fight until victory. Thousands of U.S. Marines were moving toward the Persian Gulf, raising speculation about possible operations near Kharg Island, while Iran threatened to mine the Gulf. Attacks damaged infrastructure, caused civilian casualties and intensified regional tensions; Lebanon expelled Iran’s ambassador and barred Iranian flights amid concerns over Hezbollah. The conflict has driven Brent crude above $100 a barrel, disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and caused more than 1,000 deaths in Lebanon, over 1,500 in Iran and additional fatalities in Israel and among U.S. personnel.

The United States and Iran exchanged threats as the war entered its fourth week, with President Donald Trump warning that the U.S. would destroy Iranian power plants unless Tehran reopened the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s parliament speaker threatened attacks on American and Israeli energy and infrastructure in response. Iranian missiles struck areas near Israel’s nuclear research center in the Negev, including Arad and Dimona, while Israel denied responsibility for a separate strike on Iran’s Natanz enrichment facility. The U.N. nuclear watchdog reported no known damage or abnormal radiation, though Iran said a nearby hospital was hit. Hezbollah claimed responsibility for a fatal strike in northern Israel, while Gulf states intercepted Iranian attacks. The conflict has killed more than 1,500 people in Iran, 15 in Israel and many others across the region, while the Strait’s disruption has sharply affected global oil supplies and prices.

The Iran war has driven up global energy prices and forced Egypt to raise subsidized fuel and cooking-gas prices by 15% to 22%. The increases are spreading through food, transport and other household costs as Egypt’s poor and middle class already face reduced purchasing power, high inflation and currency-related hardship. The conflict is also threatening revenue from the Suez Canal and tourism. President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi calls the hikes unavoidable, while officials promise spending controls and future salary increases. For families such as Sayyed Ragheb’s, the immediate result is deeper cuts to food and holiday spending, with a prolonged conflict potentially developing into a wider economic and political crisis.

Iran has officially confirmed that Ali Larijani, the country’s top security chief, was killed in an Israeli strike after initially dismissing reports of his death. His death follows the confirmed killing of Basij commander Gholam Reza Soleimani and the earlier assassination of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The losses remove key figures from Iran’s leadership during a major war and come amid scrutiny of their roles in suppressing protests.

Iran threatened retaliation against US-linked assets and urged evacuations from three UAE ports, accusing the United States of launching strikes from locations near Dubai without providing evidence. Donald Trump called on China, France, Japan, South Korea, the UK and other allies to send warships to keep the Strait of Hormuz open amid concerns over oil supplies. Britain said it was discussing options with allies. The conflict also brought a worsening humanitarian crisis in Lebanon, the deaths of six US service members in a military aircraft crash in Iraq, and another missile attack on the US Embassy compound in Baghdad.

Iran intensified attacks on Gulf oil infrastructure and shipping, including a projectile strike on a container ship in the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of the world's oil passes. Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain reported intercepting Iranian drones or missiles, while Israel launched further attacks on Tehran and Hezbollah targets in Lebanon. The fighting has caused hundreds of deaths in Lebanon, more than 1,300 deaths reported by Iran, and casualties in Israel, the United States and Gulf states. Brent crude remains about 20% above its level when the war began, raising concerns that prolonged disruption in the strait could trigger a broader global energy and economic crisis. Foreign nationals are continuing to evacuate the region.

Iran launched drones toward Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, with Saudi and Kuwaiti authorities reporting that the attacks were intercepted. The strikes came amid contradictory statements from U.S. President Donald Trump about the likely duration of the war, while Iranian officials said they were prepared for a prolonged conflict and saw little room for diplomacy. Fighting has disrupted oil and gas supplies, nearly halted tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, driven sharp swings in oil prices and stock markets, and caused casualties and widespread displacement across the region.

Iran’s Assembly of Experts has chosen Mojtaba Khamenei, the 56-year-old son of the late supreme leader Ali Khamenei, as Iran’s new supreme leader. His selection, supported by the Revolutionary Guard and Hezbollah, has drawn criticism over hereditary succession, while his hard-line reputation raises concerns about escalation and Iran’s nuclear policy. Iran has continued missile and drone attacks on Israel, U.S. bases and energy and water infrastructure across the Gulf, while Israel has launched further strikes on Iran. Disruption around the Strait of Hormuz pushed Brent crude above $114 a barrel, roughly 60% above its prewar level, although Donald Trump said the increase would be temporary. Regional governments have condemned the attacks, the United States has ordered nonessential personnel and families to leave several diplomatic posts, and the conflict has caused substantial casualties in Iran, Lebanon and Israel.

An Iranian drone attack caused material damage to a desalination plant in Bahrain, highlighting the vulnerability of critical drinking-water infrastructure across the Persian Gulf. The incident followed Iran’s accusation that a U.S. airstrike had damaged a desalination plant on Qeshm Island. Meanwhile, Israel continued strikes in Lebanon and Iran, including attacks on oil facilities in Tehran and Alborz that reportedly killed four tanker drivers. The wider conflict has caused more than 1,230 deaths in Iran, over 300 in Lebanon and around a dozen in Israel, while a missile alert was issued in Dubai.

Gulf Arab allies accuse the Trump administration of failing to warn them about U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran and of leaving them inadequately protected against Iran’s retaliatory missile and drone attacks. Iran has launched hundreds of missiles and more than 1,480 drones at Gulf states, killing civilians and six U.S. soldiers in Kuwait, while U.S. officials acknowledge limited capacity to intercept many Shahed drones. Regional critics blame Benjamin Netanyahu for drawing Donald Trump into the war, and Gulf governments fear mounting economic damage, instability and an open-ended conflict. The U.S. and its allies have sought Ukraine’s assistance with counter-drone defense.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused the United States of an atrocity after a U.S. submarine sank the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena in international waters near Sri Lanka, warning that Washington would regret setting such a precedent. The incident came amid an escalating U.S.-Israeli war against Iran, with Iranian strikes targeting Israel, U.S. bases and other regional locations, while Israel continued attacks on Iranian military and Hezbollah-linked targets. The conflict has caused more than 1,000 deaths in Iran and casualties in Israel and Lebanon, disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and pushed Brent crude prices higher. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said American operations could last weeks or longer, while Iran began considering candidates to replace Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was reported killed at the start of the conflict.

A Russian-flagged LNG tanker, the Arctic Metagaz, exploded and sank in the Mediterranean approximately 240 kilometres off Libya, after reportedly carrying 61,000 tons of liquefied natural gas. All 30 crew members were rescued. Russia’s Transport Ministry blamed Ukrainian sea drones launched from the Libyan coast, but Ukraine had not immediately commented and has not publicly confirmed similar earlier allegations. The tanker was under Western sanctions and was suspected of belonging to Russia’s shadow fleet used to evade energy sanctions. The incident occurred as Ukraine continues to use sea drones against Russian vessels in its war with Russia.

The U.S.-Israeli campaign against Iran entered its fifth day as Israel struck Iranian security forces and sites linked to the succession of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, while Iran continued missile and drone attacks against Israel and targets across the Persian Gulf. More than 500 Iranian ballistic missiles and 2,000 drones have reportedly been launched, while U.S. officials say nearly 2,000 Iranian targets have been hit. The conflict has killed hundreds in Iran and dozens elsewhere, including in Lebanon, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Israel. Attacks and threats around the Strait of Hormuz pushed oil prices above $82 a barrel and rattled global markets. The war’s objectives remain unclear, with the Trump administration citing military, nuclear and regional-security goals while senior officials have disputed that regime change is its formal aim.