Several countries have condemned on Wednesday Israel's treatment of detained activists from the intercepted Gaza aid flotilla, as seen in a video shared by Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir. He posted a video showing detained activists kneeling with their hands tied behind their backs and their foreheads on the ground.
Skip next section US military says boarded Iranian-flagged oil tanker May 20, 2026 US military says boarded Iranian-flagged oil tanker The US military announced that it had boarded an Iranian-flagged commercial oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman, which was suspected of attempting to breach the American blockade.
Fakhri Abu Diab, a community leader, walks by the remains of his family home after it was demolished by Israeli forces, in the Silwan neighborhood of East Jerusalem.
Pakistan has delivered a revised peace proposal from Iran to the US, sources in Islamabad told reporters on Monday. According to Reuters news agency, both sides were warned that they "don't have much time" to narrow their differences before the situation escalates again.
A senior Uyghur militant stands in an olive grove in northern Syria, where Uyghur commanders say their fighters began an ultimately successful assault on Syrian regime forces in November 2024.
Skip next section Putin discusses Iran with UAE president, Kremlin says May 16, 2026 Putin discusses Iran with UAE president, Kremlin says Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the Iran conflict with his counterpart from the United Arab Emirates, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Kremlin said in a statement on Saturday.
Last week, avid online weapons spotters located what appeared to be a Chinese-made laser system at Dubai airport in the United Arab Emirates. The lasers are mounted on a vehicle and are supposed to be able to shoot down drones.
Skip next section Lebanon says ceasefire extension paves way for 'lasting stability' May 15, 2026 Lebanon says ceasefire extension paves way for 'lasting stability' The extension of a ceasefire in Lebanon paves the way for "lasting stability," Lebanon's negotiating delegation in Washington said on Friday.
Palestinians gather around a vehicle struck by an Israeli strike in Gaza City, Friday, May 15, 2026. Jehad Alshrafi/AP hide caption toggle caption Jehad Alshrafi/AP JERUSALEM — Israel says it has killed the leader of Hamas' military wing, one of the architects of the Oct, 7, 2023, attacks that triggered the war in Gaza.
Pakistan has taken on a leading role in the peace efforts between the US and Iran, hosting talks and serving as an intermediary for backchannel diplomacy between the warring parties. For Islamabad, the stakes are high. Officials view stability in the Gulf as closely tied to the country's own economic and security interests.
India has long taken pride in doing what few major powers could manage. It bought oil from Iran, built defense ties with Israel, strengthened relations with the US and expanded economic links with the Gulf monarchies, while insisting it would not be drawn into regional camps or formal alliances.
Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar called for "safe, unimpeded maritime flows" through international waters, including the Strait of Hormuz, as the politically divided BRICS nations gathered in New Delhi on Thursday. "We meet at a time of considerable flux in international relations," Jaishankar said in his opening remarks.