A US Marine Corps AH-1Z Viper attack helicopter patrols near a commercial vessel transiting regional waters as American forces enforce the maritime blockade against Iran. (US CENTCOM/X)
This live blog follows the latest developments across the Middle East crisis, including regional diplomacy, maritime security, ceasefire negotiations, and economic fallout.
Catch up: Yesterday’s top developments
Tehran calls on Baghdad to ensure Iraqi territory not used to threaten Iran
Published: May 26, 2026 | 23:52 GMT | by AFP
Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency reports that the deputy secretary of Tehran’s Supreme National Security Council, Ali Bagheri Kani, called on Baghdad to take action to ensure that Iraqi territory and airspace are not used to threaten or attack Iran.
According to the report, Bagheri Kani said that the roots of such threats must be eliminated, adding that Iran remains ready to engage in active cooperation with Iraq to address the issue.
The remarks were made during a meeting with Iraqi National Security Adviser Qasim al-Araji on the sidelines of the 14th Moscow International Security Conference.
Israeli strikes kill 31 in south Lebanon as Israel expands ground operations
Published: May 26, 2026 | 23:13 GMT | by AFP
Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon killed 31 people on Tuesday, the Lebanese health ministry said, as Israel said it was intensifying attacks despite a truce in its war with Hezbollah.
The group, meanwhile, said it faced Israeli troops entering the southern town of Zawtar al-Sharqiyah, as the Israeli military said it was expanding its ground operations.
In a statement, the health ministry said 31 people, including at least four children and three women, were killed in attacks and 40 were wounded.
Civil defense worker killed in double-tap Israeli air strike in Lebanon
Published: May 26, 2026 | 23:10 GMT | by AFP
Lebanon’s Civil Defense says an Israeli air strike has killed one of its rescue workers today in the town of Qaraoun while he was attempting to save a wounded motorcyclist.
The General Directorate of Civil Defense identified the deceased emergency responder as Kamel Youssef Zein.
According to the report, Zein was driving past the Qaraoun Dam with his family when an initial Israeli air strike hit a person on a motorcycle nearby. The statement noted that Zein immediately stopped his vehicle, left his family in the car, and rushed to the scene to administer first aid to the casualty.
As he was “performing his humanitarian duty, a second Israeli strike hit the exact same location, leaving him critically injured”, the report said, adding that he later succumbed to his wounds.
New strikes threaten ceasefires in Iran, Lebanon
Published: May 26, 2026 | 22:37 GMT | by AFP
Tehran on Tuesday accused Washington of breaching their ceasefire and warned it was ready to retaliate after overnight US strikes, while Israeli bombardment in Lebanon left dozens dead, threatening an increasingly fragile truce there.
Iranian state media reported overnight blasts in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas, near the Strait of Hormuz, and the country's Revolutionary Guards said its forces had downed a US drone entering its airspace and had fired at an F-35 fighter jet.
"The US terrorist army, continuing its illegal and unjustified actions since the ceasefire...has, in the past 48 hours, committed a gross violation of the ceasefire in the Hormozgan region," the Iranian foreign ministry said.
It added that Tehran "will not leave any evil unanswered and will not hesitate to defend the Iranian nation," without elaborating.
Children among dozens killed and injured in Israeli air strikes on south Lebanon
Published: May 26, 2026 | 18:30 GMT | by AFP
The NNA reports that the recent attacks killed 31 people, including multiple women and children, and left 40 others wounded, Al Jazeera reported.
According to a statement from the public health ministry’s emergency operations centre, the casualties followed a series of military strikes targeting several towns and villages.
In Burj al-Shamali, 14 people were killed, including two children and three women, while 16 others were wounded, including five children and six women.
A strike on Kouthariyat al-Ruz killed five people and wounded six, including two children.
In Habboush, four people died, including two children, and 10 were wounded, including two children and three women.
Furthermore, six people were killed and six others were wounded, including one child, in Maarakah, while two people were killed and two were injured in Selaa.
Strikes hit south Lebanon city as Israel expands ground operations
Published: May 26, 2026 | 16:30 GMT | by AFP
Several strikes hit the southern Lebanese city of Nabatieh on Tuesday after an Israeli evacuation warning, an AFP correspondent said, as an Israeli military official confirmed ground operations had expanded deeper into the country.
The latest strikes came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday ordered his military to intensify attacks on Hezbollah to "crush" the Iran-backed group, the same day at least 11 people were killed in a strike in eastern Lebanon.
An AFP correspondent in Nabatieh reported airstrikes following the warning on Tuesday and saw plumes of smoke rising from various locations within the city.
Iran accuses US of violating ceasefire over past 48 hours
Published: May 26, 2026 | 13:19 GMT | by AFP
Iran's foreign ministry on Tuesday accused the United States of violating a fragile ceasefire during the past 48 hours in the southern coastal province of Hormozgan, without specifying the incident.
The accusation comes after US Central Command said its forces had on Monday attacked missile sites and boats in southern Iran that were trying to lay mines in the Gulf, while Iran's Revolutionary Guards said it fired at US aircraft trying to enter its airspace.
Khamenei says US regional influence declining
Published: May 26, 2026 | 8:19 GMT | by Web Desk
Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said Tuesday that countries in the region would “no longer serve as shields for American bases,” according to a written statement carried by Iranian state television.
In a message marking the Eid al-Adha holiday, Khamenei said “the hands of time will not turn backwards,” adding that the United States was steadily losing influence in the region and moving “further and further away from its former status with each passing day.”
The remarks come amid ongoing regional tensions and diplomatic efforts linked to the Iran-US ceasefire and broader negotiations over maritime security and regional stability.
Iran says over 1,500 schools damaged during recent conflict
Published: May 26, 2026 | 4:45 GMT | by Web Desk
Islamic Republic News Agency reported that Iran’s School Renovation Organization has identified damage to 1,507 schools and 219 non-educational facilities during the recent war.
According to IRNA, the head of the organization said 15 schools were completely destroyed and would be rebuilt with support from charities and assistance organizations.
Officials also said another 254 schools are expected to resume operations within two months.
Asia stocks, oil prices mixed on US-Iran deal uncertainty
Published: May 26, 2026 | 3:20 GMT | by AFP
Asian stock markets and oil prices traded unevenly Tuesday as uncertainty over negotiations between the United States and Iran continued to weigh on investor sentiment following fresh US strikes in southern Iran.
Markets had rallied earlier this week after reports suggested progress toward an agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but optimism faded after US Central Command said American forces carried out “self-defense strikes” targeting missile sites and boats allegedly attempting to lay naval mines.
Oil prices fluctuated amid the uncertainty, with Brent crude edging higher while US benchmark West Texas Intermediate fell more than 5%.
Analysts said markets were reacting sharply to every diplomatic or military development linked to the Middle East crisis and the future of maritime trade through Hormuz.
Strait of Hormuz “has to be open”: Rubio
Published: May 26, 2026 | 2:46 GMT | by Web Desk
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday that the Strait of Hormuz “has to be open” and would reopen “one way or the other,” after renewed US strikes on Iran raised uncertainty over efforts to sustain a broader ceasefire agreement.
Speaking during a visit to Jaipur, India, Rubio described the disruption in maritime navigation as “unlawful,” “illegal” and “unsustainable for the world.”
Rubio says Iran deal still possible within days despite US strikes
Published: May 26, 2026 | 2:21 GMT | by AFP
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Tuesday that a deal with Iran was still possible despite new American strikes that cast doubt on their fragile ceasefire.
"There were some talks going on in Qatar today, so we'll see if we can make progress. I think it's a lot of talking back and forth going on about specific language in the initial document, so it'll take a few days," Rubio told reporters in Jaipur during an official visit to India.
"The president's expressed his desire to make it. He's either going to make a good deal or no deal," he said.
WTI crude price falls over 5% despite new US strikes on Iran
Published: May 26, 2026 | 00:52 GMT | by AFP
The price of the main US benchmark for oil fell more than 5% on Tuesday, despite US forces launching new strikes on Iran.
Around 00:30 GMT, the price of West Texas Intermediate was down 5.46% at $91.33 a barrel.
However, North Sea Brent crude was up 1.6% at $97.68 a barrel.
Oil prices plunged below $100 on Monday as investors raised expectations of a reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, following signs that Washington and Tehran were edging closer to a deal.
US CENTCOM strikes Iran as Trump urges Qatar and Saudi Arabia join Abraham Accords
Published: May 26, 2026 | 00:48 GMT | by Web Desk
The United States military struck southern Iran while President Donald Trump set new conditions on the ongoing peace negotiations, urging Qatar and Saudi Arabia to normalize relations with Israel as a prerequisite for ending the conflict.
The US Central Command said it targeted “missile launch sites” and Iranian “boats laying mines,” characterizing the action as “self-defense” during an ongoing ceasefire, according to The Guardian.
Explosions were also reported in the port city of Bandar Abbas, with the Iranian state news agency Mehr stating the situation remained under control.
The US President also laid out a nuclear disposal framework in a Truth Social post, proposing Iran's enriched uranium be transferred to the United States for destruction or destroyed domestically under international oversight.
Canada's Carney calls treatment of Gaza flotilla activists 'unacceptable'
Published: May 26, 2026 | 00:44 GMT | by AFP
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Monday denounced the "appalling treatment" of activists aboard the Gaza-bound aid flotilla as "unacceptable," in a call with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, according to a statement.
Last week, Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir sparked widespread condemnation and a diplomatic backlash by posting a video mocking the activists after they were seized in international waters by Israeli soldiers.
In the video dozens of activists, including 12 Canadian citizens, were forced to kneel with their foreheads to the ground and their hands tied.
In the call, Carney called for an independent investigation and "strongly condemned" remarks by Ben Gvir, according to the statement.
Last week, Canada said it was summoning the Israeli ambassador over the incident.
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