Glimpses of peace in the Gulf. A few hours after the ultimatum to Iran on Hormuz expired, Trump surprisingly announced a 15-point agreement being finalized with Tehran which would give up having a nuclear weapon. Stop raids for 5 days. The tycoon also speaks of “regime change” underway in Iran, which however denies talks with the US and denounces “fake news to manipulate the markets”. Stocks on the rise. Oil down, then up again this morning. Melons today in Algeria.
Media, Iranian missile with 100 kg explosive between two buildings in Tel Aviv
An Iranian missile that, according to police, carried a warhead with about 100 kg of explosives fell between two buildings in Tel Aviv, destroying the facade of a building. No injuries were reported. The Israeli media reported it by showing the photos.
The commander of the Tel Aviv Home Front said the attack caused severe damage to three buildings, now being assessed for possible collapse. “The shelters remained intact,” he said, adding that the people inside were unharmed. The commander of the Tel Aviv police Nord said the search was ongoing and that so far no one had needed to be evacuated to hospital. The debris shattered the window of a car parked nearby.
Costa: ‘The US war in Iran has ignored European security’
“We cannot ignore that, for the first time ever, the US has unleashed a war in the Middle East, in our neighborhood, without providing any prior information to its European allies or to NATO. And, in fact, it is carrying out this action without caring about the repercussions on the global economy, on the European economy and on our security.” The President of the European Council Antonio Costa said this at SciencesPo School of International Affairs. “We are paying the consequences, we are suffering a strong economic shock caused by this war,” he added.
WSJ, Gulf countries are considering joining the fight against Iran
US allies in the Persian Gulf are moving ever closer to joining the fight against Iran, hardening their positions following continued attacks that have rattled their economies and risk giving Tehran long-term leverage over the Strait of Hormuz. The WSJ writes it.
They are not yet going as far as openly deploying their military forces in the conflict, a line that Gulf rulers had hoped not to exceed, although pressure is mounting as Iran threatens to exert greater influence over the energy-rich region.
Cathay Pacific extends travel suspension to Dubai and Riyadh until May 31
Hong Kong airline Cathay Pacific has announced that it has extended the suspension of flights to and from Dubai and Riyadh by one month until May 31 due to the war in the Middle East. The Asian aviation giant said in two separate statements that all Cathay Pacific flights to and from Riyadh and Dubai had been canceled up to and including May 31, 2026, “in light of the ongoing situation in the Middle East”.
IDF destroys another bridge over the LItani river in southern Lebanon
The IDF once again attacked the a-Dalafah bridge over the Litani river in southern Lebanon, completely destroying it. This was reported by Lebanese sources quoted by the Tel Aviv media. The army then attacked the al-Amana petrol station in the a-Nabatiya area.
Iran: ‘If attacked, power plants will be rebuilt’
Iranian Energy Minister Abbas Aliabadi downplayed US President Donald Trump’s threats about possible US attacks on Iranian power plants, saying the Islamic Republic has decentralized its electricity production and plans to rebuild the plants if they are hit. “The people should not be worried at all; if the power plants are hit they will be rebuilt and modernized quickly,” Aliabadi said, as reported by Al Jazeera. After having threatened to strike Iranian power plants if Tehran did not reopen the Strait of Hormuz, Trump yesterday announced a five-day postponement of “all military attacks against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure”, after “very positive and productive conversations” with Iran, while the Islamic Republic denied that “negotiations” with the United States are underway.
After the Iranian attack, Israel bombs Tehran
After the Iranian missile attack, with at least one missile with a 100 kilogram warhead of explosives causing at least 6 injuries and extensive damage in the heart of Tel Aviv, Israeli forces are hitting missile launchers and infrastructure in western Iran. The Israeli media reported it.
US raid against pro-Tehran militiamen in Iraq, 15 dead
A raid attributed to US forces in western Iraq caused the death of 15 militiamen from the former paramilitary coalition Hashed al-Shaabi, also known as the Popular Mobilization Forces, on the front line in the fight against ISIS and now integrated into Baghdad’s army.
Three waves of missiles from Iran, 4 injured in Tel Aviv
Four people were injured in an Iranian missile attack in Tel Aviv. This was reported by Haaretz, specifying that, according to the emergency services, the four people suffered minor injuries in one of the places of impact. A building and the adjacent road were severely damaged in central Tel Aviv, where some cars caught fire. Intercepted missile fragments also fell in Rosh HaAyin, causing minor damage. This morning, Iran fired three waves of missiles at Israel, with reports of an impact in the north of the country.
Iran launches new wave of missiles against Israel, hitting a building
Iran launched another wave of missiles at Israel this morning, state television announced, after earlier attacks hit a building in the northern Jewish state and a loud explosion was heard in Jerusalem. “Iran launches a new wave of missiles against the occupied territories,” the state broadcaster of the Islamic Republic of Iran (Irib) wrote on Telegram. Shortly after, he added that “Iranian missiles penetrated several Israeli missile defenses.” Israel’s emergency services have released a video of a damaged building in the north of the country, saying there were no casualties. The Israeli military issued several statements this morning saying it had detected incoming Iranian missiles and was working to intercept them.