WAR 'TERMINATED'!!! (it's not); My Lai 2.0; Economic crisis; Genocide continues unabated - IRAN WAR NEWS - 1-May-2026 (update 2)

UPDATE 2

Trump admin says Iran conflict 'terminated' - AP - RT World News

The US-Israeli war on Iran has already been "terminated," and the Trump administration believes it does not need an extension from Congress to continue the fighting, the Associated Press has reported, citing sources.

12bytes: "Terminated" eh? Let me guess; the blockade (the war) will continue, amirite? What about Israel? There's a whole lot that could be said here, but it's all speculation at this point. We'll see what happens.

Trump Vows To 'Blast The Hell Out' Of Iran If Not Deal Is Reached

United States President Donald Trump confirmed on May 1 that he was briefed by Central Command (CENTCOM) chief Adm. Bradley Cooper about military options against Iran.

"Do we want to go and just blast the hell out of them and finish them forever, or do we want to try and make a deal - those are the options," Trump told reporters outside the White House.

Trump added that on a "human basis," he would prefer not to bomb the Islamic Republic, but also doesn't want them to have a nuclear weapon.

12bytes: The fact that Trump and his idiot minions are making 'the bomb' issue a red-line reveals the game. Trump will never agree to any peace deal because the Iranians cannot satisfy his demand. They are not seeking a nuclear weapons program (or at least they weren't before the US attacked), therefore it's impossible to satisfy Trump's demented demand. THIS IS NOT ABOUT IRAN.

Total blackout plunges Aden, Lahj into darkness amid system collapse - Yemen Press Agency

ADEN, LAHJ, May 01 (YPA) - The governorates of Aden and Lahj have experienced a near-total collapse of the power grid, resulting in a complete blackout lasting over 24 hours.

The crisis unfolds amidst official silence and a total disregard for citizen suffering as a scorching summer approaches.

In Lahj, a total power failure coincided with intensive disconnection campaigns against residents behind on payments, despite the utility's failure to provide even minimal service.

[...]

The Saudi-backed government remains unable to secure fuel shipments for power plants due to economic collapse and a revenue shortfall following the refusal of four governorates to remit funds to the Central Bank.

IN OTHER NEWS...

Jews were forced to fall out of trees

Evil Nazis made Jews sit in trees and crow like a rooster until they fell from the trees, frozen

12bytes: Never hear this one before! Heard many other idiotic claims though.

WATCH: The WHCD Shooting Was Fake and Staged - NWNW #628 - OffGuardian

In this edition of New World Next Week, your friendly neighbourhood Jameses discuss the "assassination attempt" at the White House Correspondent's Dinner, Billy Corgan's economics lesson, and how your car may be a surveillance machine by 2027.

This is the first episode of of NWNW we've shared in a while, but the coincidence was too much to ignore. Just as we were covering car surveillance tech and licensing regulations in the EU, James One and James Two were discussing the same exact technology being rolled out for the same exact reasons on the other side of the Atlantic.

And then there's China too, of course.

UPDATE 1

Iran submits new proposal to Pakistan to resume US talks on ending war - Middle East Monitor

Iran has submitted a new proposal to Pakistan to resume negotiations with the United States aimed at reaching an agreement to end the war, Iranian media reported on Friday, Anadolu Agency reports.

According to the Iranian official news agency (IRNA), Iran has delivered its latest draft proposal for negotiations to Pakistan on Thursday evening.

The report did not provide details on the content of the new proposal.

The White House reportedly stopped short of providing details on the proposal, reiterating to the US daily New York Post that President Donald Trump has said any deal must prevent Iran from possessing nuclear arms.

Trump says 'not satisfied' with Iran's proposal, citing demands he cannot agree to - Middle East Monitor

US President Donald Trump said he is not satisfied with Iran's latest ceasefire proposal, adding that Tehran is asking for things he cannot agree to, Anadolu Agency reports.

"They've got to come up with the right deal. At this moment, I'm not satisfied," Trump told reporters before he departed the White House.

Asked why he is not satisfied with Iran's proposal, Trump said: "They're asking for things that I can't agree to."

Pentagon is lying: Netanyahus gamble cost US four times official estimate, Araghchi says

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says the Pentagon is lying about the financial toll of the war on Iran, noting that the aggression has directly cost the United States $100 billion so far-four times the official estimate.

"The Pentagon is lying. Netanyahu's gamble has directly cost America $100b so far, four times what is claimed," Araghchi wrote on X Friday.

"Indirect costs for U.S. taxpayers are FAR higher. Monthly bill for each American household is $500 and rising fast," he added.

"Israel First always means America Last," he said, referring to the Israeli role in dragging the US into a war of aggression against the Iranian nation.

US National Debt Exceeds Size of Economy for 1st Time Since End of World War II - Reports

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The US national debt exceeded the size of the country's economy at the end of March for the first time since the end of World War II, Fox Business reported, citing data released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Most advanced US warship retreats as war on Iran breaks American Navy

The USS Gerald R. Ford, the largest and most expensive aircraft carrier ever built by the United States, has been forced to withdraw from West Asia after 309 days of continuous deployment in support of the unprovoked US terrorist war against Iran.

The $13 billion leviathan is returning to Norfolk, Virginia, in a state of significant mechanical degradation, a humiliating retreat that exposes the fragility of the American war machine.

Hezbollah carries out military operations in response to Israeli violations - Yemen Press Agency

BEIRUT, May 01 (YPA) - The Islamic Resistance in Lebanon (Hezbollah) carried out series of military operations against Israeli targets in response to repeated violations of the ceasefire in southern Lebanon.

Hezbollah issued five consecutive statements on Friday to illustrate the Resistance operations and their outcomes.

Statement 1

In defense of Lebanon and its people, and in response to the "Israeli" enemy's violation of the ceasefire and the attacks that targeted villages in southern Lebanon, resulting in martyrs and a number of wounded civilians, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of "Israeli" enemy army soldiers in the town of Al-Bayada at 10:45 on Friday, 01/05/2026, with an attack drone, achieving a confirmed hit.

Statement 2

In defense of Lebanon and its people, and in response to the "Israeli" enemy's breach of the ceasefire and the attacks that affected villages in southern Lebanon and resulted in martyrs and a number of wounded among the civilians, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted, at 9:30 on Friday 01-05-2026, a gathering of "Israeli" enemy army soldiers in the vicinity of the Musa Abbas complex in the city of Bint Jbeil with artillery shells.

Statement 3

In defense of Lebanon and its people, and in response to the "Israeli" enemy's violation of the ceasefire and the attacks that affected villages in southern Lebanon and resulted in martyrs and a number of wounded among civilians, Islamic Resistance fighters targeted, at 9:30 on Friday 01-05-2026, a gathering of "Israeli" enemy army soldiers in the vicinity of the school in the town of Houla with artillery shells.

Statement 4

In defense of Lebanon and its people, and in response to the "Israeli" enemy's breach of the ceasefire and the aggressions that affected villages in southern Lebanon and resulted in the martyrdom of martyrs and a number of injuries among civilians, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted, at 13:15 on Friday 01/05/2026, a military vehicle in the town of Al-Bayada with an attack drone, achieving a confirmed hit.

Statement 5

In defense of Lebanon and its people, and in response to the "Israeli" enemy's violation of the ceasefire and the attacks that affected villages in southern Lebanon, resulting in martyrs and a number of wounded among civilians, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a Humvee vehicle in the town of Al-Taybeh with an attack drone at 13:25 on Friday, 01/05/2026, achieving a confirmed hit.

Israel kills child collecting cardboard in Gaza | The Electronic Intifada

In Gaza, Israel is killing and injuring Palestinians every day, nearly seven months into the fraudulent ceasefire, while the health crisis is exacerbated by Israel's ongoing, draconian blockade on essential items, including medicine, infrastructure materials and fuel.

As of Wednesday, Israel has killed at least 823 Palestinians and injured more than 2,300 in Gaza since the so-called ceasefire was declared in October 2025, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.

On Wednesday, Israeli attacks killed five Palestinians, including a paramedic named Ibrahim Saqr, according to the health ministry.

Reporter Saed Hasballah captured footage of Saqr's colleagues collapsing in grief around his body.

Israeli attacks on Tuesday killed three Palestinians, including a 9-year-old boy who was shot by an Israeli drone in eastern Khan Younis.

A relative, speaking to reporters, said that they don't have cooking gas to make food, so the child, Adel al-Najjar, was collecting cardboard scraps for his family to use as fuel.

Drop Site reports that Adel's younger brother had been killed under similar circumstances in the same area just a month ago.

System of sexual torture targeting Palestinians exposed in new report | The Electronic Intifada

"We suddenly found ourselves dealing with hundreds of testimonies where released detainees said they were subjected to sexual violence," Maha Husseini told The Electronic Intifada Livestream for 30 April.

Hussaini is head of media and public engagement at Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor, which has published a report documenting systematic sexual violence, including the widespread use of rape, against Palestinian detainees held in Israeli prisons and military detention camps since October 2023.

The report, "Another genocide behind walls" concludes that the horrific abuses are not isolated acts but part of an organized state policy enabled by Israeli legal, medical and judicial institutions.

Christian leaders slam 'despicable' Israeli assault on French nun in occupied al-Quds

Condemnations pour following an assault by an extremist Israeli settler on a French nun, as attacks on Christian and Muslim clergy and holy sites are on the rise across the occupied territories.

Israeli army demolishes Christian monastery, nuns' school in southern Lebanon - Middle East Monitor

The Israeli army demolished a monastery and a school run by the Sisters of the Holy Savior in the southern Lebanese town of Yaroun, the state National News Agency reported on Friday.

The school "was considered one of the most prominent educational institutions in the region," having educated thousands of students over the years from various towns in the Bint Jbeil district, said the agency.

Israeli occupation forces fire tear gas at Palestinian worshippers during Friday Sermon in Ramallah - YouTube

Israeli occupation forces fired tear gas canisters at Palestinian worshippers during the Friday sermon in Burqa, east of Ramallah,

This adds to "Israel''s" pattern of assaults and attacks across the occupied West Bank and al-Quds, where worshippers are repeatedly targeted during religious gatherings.

Israeli forces conduct raids and seize land in occupied West Bank | Middle East Eye

Israeli forces raided Burqa village, near Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank, according to Wafa news agency.

Per the report, the Israeli military launched rubber-coated metal bullets, live ammunition, and gas canisters on Palestinians leaving Friday prayers at the mosque in the village, and shot a young man.

The forces also detained several young men and children during the Burqa raid.

Wafa also reported that Israeli forces seized a tract of land from the village of Kharsa near Hebron, and confiscated it from a Palestinian family based on military orders.

Meanwhile, settlers launched attacks in Massafer Yatta, attacking Palestinians and burning vehicles, according to Wafa's correspondents.

WHO recorded 149 attacks on health care in Lebanon | Middle East Eye

The World Health Organization has recorded 149 attacks by the Israeli military on health care facilities and workers in Lebanon, since the start of the US-Israel war on Iran on February 28, according to a statement posted by Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on X.

The Organization also reported 26 attacks in Iran and 6 in Israel.

Israeli continues strikes near Tyre and Nabatieh | Middle East Eye

The Israeli military launched an airstrike on a home near Tyre, in Southern Lebanon, killing one woman and injuring four others, according to Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA).

This comes after a strike near Nabatieh, killing one, and another strike near Tyre, killing two people.

Over 20 people were killed by Israeli strikes in Lebanon yesterday alone, according to Al Jazeera.

IN OTHER NEWS...

Straight outta the Federal Department of Bullshit: Epstein 'suicide note' found by cellmate - NYT - RT World News

Tartaglione, a former police officer serving four life sentences for a quadruple murder, told the NYT on the phone that the suicide note was written on a piece of yellow paper ripped from a legal pad and tucked into a graphic novel that Epstein used to read.

According to the cellmate, in the message the financier claimed that the investigators had "found nothing" on him despite looking for months. He said that Epstein's note concluded with the words: "What do you want me to do, bust out crying? Time to say goodbye."

Tartaglione claimed that he had given the paper to his lawyers, suggesting that it could have been useful to counter claims made by Epstein after the July 2019 incident that he had been attacked by his cellmate.

END UPDATES

In Iran, at the site of the worst US war crime since My Lai massacre

On the first day of the unprovoked US-Israeli War on Iran, the Pentagon launched a double-tap Tomahawk missile strike on the Shajareh Tayyebeh Elementary School in Minab, obliterating the building and slaughtering 155 people - 120 of whom were small children.

With the Trump administration still refusing to acknowledge its role in the worst US military massacre since My Lai, The Grayzone's Wyatt Reed went to Minab to investigate the scene of the crime firsthand.

US Congress member says 'imminent' military strikes on Iran still on the table | Middle East Eye

US Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal in an interview with CNN indicated that "an imminent military strike is very much on the table".

Blumenthal indicated that this should not be surprising as military leaders involved in the matter have discussed such actions for some time now.

"I can't be more specific, because I received at least one of these briefings, several of them, in classified settings. But I'm not saying with any certainty as to when it would happen, but very much on the table as a potential plan," he said.

He added that it is "deeply disturbing" because it would involve "American sons and daughters in harm's way and potential massive casualties".

Soon Comes The Mother of All Supply Shocks - Antiwar.com

The fact is, since February 28th the only meaningful amount of oil, LNG, naphtha/petrochemical feed-stocks, LPGs, ammonia, sulfur, aluminum, helium and sundry others that have passed thru the SOH is Iranian product in vessels hugging the coastline along the Iran/Pakistan/India route to the Indian ocean and beyond.

This means, in turn, that the greatest bow-wave of missing physical shipments will soon be lapping up on the ports in India and the Pacific east-wise and Rotterdam and the European ports to the west. As a practical matter of vessel time on the water, it takes VLCCs roughly 20 days to get from SOH to Japan, 30 days from SOH to Rotterdam thru Suez and 40-days if the Houthis shutdown the Red Sea Route and force tankers around the Cape of Africa, which is likely as the war winds on.

Accordingly, and as we have previously noted, nearly 900 million barrels of oil, or roughly 55% of the normal 1.7 billion barrels of seaborne oil shipments are now missing from the global tanker traffic heading to ports. So even if a complete peace deal and return to open-ended free navigation were to be agreed to by mid-May, there would be no new tankers coming into Rotterdam until July at the earliest.

So the "blockade" is about to cause mayhem alright, but that would be the Iranian blockade doing the thundering damage to European and Asian economies.

Pentagon says Iran still has part of naval fleet despite Trump claims - Middle East Monitor

Earlier, US President Donald Trump made a series of strong statements about the war on Iran, vowing to destroy what remains of its navy and asserting that Iranian military capabilities have been largely eliminated.

Trump said: "Some small boats are what remain of Iran's navy and we will destroy them too," adding that "Iran may have rearmed during the two-week pause". He also claimed that the Iranians do not know who is leading their country, saying: "Nobody knows for sure who the leaders are."

This comes despite his earlier declaration of the Iranian fleet's total destruction, in which he claimed that US forces had sunk 159 ships, describing this as the entirety of Iran's navy.

12bytes: Pretty darn sure Iran still has a lot of its naval assets left. They have an underground navy consisting of a very large number of drones and i don't think many of them, if any, have been deployed.

Morning update | Middle East Eye

Despite a pause in fighting in the war on Iran, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said that Tel Aviv might resume its attacks "soon" to achieve its goals.

In contrast, a senior US official told NBC News that US hostilities against Tehran that began in late February have been "terminated".

"Both parties agreed to a 2-week ceasefire on Tues, April 7 that has since been extended," NBC News reporter Monica Alba said in a post on X, citing the senior administration official as saying.

Here are some of the latest developments:

• The total cost of the war on Iran is closer to $50 billion, significantly higher than the figure presented by the Pentagon, according to CBS news citing US officials familiar with the matter.
• UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that the crisis in the Middle East is growing "dramatically worse with each passing hour", encouraging opening a "pathway to peace".
• Israel received 6,500 tons of American ammunition and military equipment in the last 24 hours, the Israeli Ministry of Defense announced in a statement late on Thursday. They include thousands of air and ground munitions, military trucks, Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTVs), and additional military equipment.
• An Israeli attack in Nabatiyeh al-Faouqa, southern Lebanon, resulted in the killing of two and the wounding of at least 10 others, Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA) reported.
• Israeli forces have reportedly carried out strikes on Wednesday using white phosphorus munitions in Nabatiyeh, south Lebanon, according to footage and circulating news.

Gaza media office reports 377 Israeli ceasefire violations in April - Middle East Monitor

The statement added that humanitarian access remained severely restricted. Only 4,503 aid trucks entered Gaza during April, compared with 18,000 stipulated under the agreement-around 25 per cent of the expected volume.

Fuel deliveries were also far below agreed levels, with 187 trucks entering the territory out of 1,500 planned, equivalent to about 12 per cent. The office said this shortfall has had a direct impact on essential services, including healthcare, water supply and electricity.

Movement in and out of Gaza also remained limited, with 1,567 passengers recorded during the month compared with 6,000 expected under the agreement, or roughly 26 per cent.

White phosphorus reportedly used in southern Lebanon | Middle East Eye

Israeli forces have reportedly carried out strikes using white phosphorus munitions in Nabatiyeh, south Lebanon, according to footage and circulating news.

White phosphorus is a chemical substance delivered through artillery shells, rockets or bombs. It ignites when it comes into contact with oxygen and can rapidly spread fires.

Leading human rights groups have slammed Israel's use of such chemicals as "unlawful", with evidence of it being utilised in Lebanon in recent times.

Religious, cultural sites deliberately targeted in countries attacked by Israel

From Gaza to Lebanon and Iran, Israeli forces have intentionally targeted religious and cultural sites.

As a result, hundreds of these sites, including mosques, churches, and museums, have been destroyed. Many say the pattern points to an effort to erase the religious and cultural identities of the countries under attack.

Israel to pour $730m into propaganda arm amid reputational crisis | Middle East Eye

Israel is preparing to spend nearly three-quarters of a billion dollars on its propaganda arm as it seeks to counter a worsening global image shaped by the genocide in Gaza and regional wars, according to its national budget passed in March.

First reported by The Jerusalem Post, a total of $730m has been allocated to the national public diplomacy directorate, known by its Hebrew name Hasbara, which oversees Israeli propaganda.

The figure marks a sharp increase from the $150m set aside the previous year, which had already surged to roughly 20 times pre-2023 levels.

EU facing mounting economic crisis over illegal war on Iran

EU leaders face growing pressure over the economic fallout from the US-Israeli-imposed war on Iran, as millions across the 27-nation bloc struggle with rising energy and living costs.

12bytes: Well, allow yourself to become a vassal of the US and that's what happens. The economic situation in the US will also continue to worsen.

By failing to sanction Israel, the EU has confirmed once again its global irrelevance | Middle East Eye

The US and Europe took a tough stance towards Russia by severing energy supplies, adopting unprecedented sanctions, and providing weapons deliveries and intelligence support to Kyiv's government.

No western decision-maker considered, or more likely ignored the fact, that by sanctioning Russia, the world's primary commodities producer, dire consequences for their economies were to be expected.

IN OTHER NEWS...

Biden and Trump: Twin Towers of Senility

Enough of those of us who experienced the 2021-2025 Democrat-Biden instigated third-world invasion and the transfer of billions of American tax-payer dollars to finance foreign wars (Ukraine, Gaza) while American infrastructure deteriorated, voted to give Donald Trump an electoral-college, popular majority and a second chance. The 2016 election was "fool me once." 2024 was "fool me twice." The "peace" candidate has pulled off the greatest voter-betrayal move in American electoral history. And so, we transitioned from a senile octogenarian with hair plugs to another one with a comb over who can contradict himself in a single sentence-different parties, different styles, both crude and buffoonish, both tools of Jewish supremacists:

Joe Biden:

"I don't believe you have to be a Jew to be a Zionist, and I am a Zionist."

The Trump appointed American ambassador to Israel, Christian Zionist, Mike Huckabee:

"I consider myself a Christian Zionist... it simply means a Christian is someone who believes Jewish people have a divine right ... and a geopolitical right to a homeland that they have lived in for almost four thousand years."

Consider how these two brief comments below reveal the complete lack of detachment from reality.

Tech billionaires openly declare their ambitions for world domination

In mid-April 2026, the American tech giant Palantir published on its social media a summary of the book "The Technological Republic" by the company's CEO, Alex Karp, and the head of its division, Nicholas Zamiska.

Trump and Palantir on the battlefield. AI weapons

Essentially, this is a 22-point manifesto advocating the use of brute force through artificial intelligence.

The authors call for the immediate development of AI weapons, an end to pressure on billionaires, a return to the draft, and a disregard for the moral implications of political decisions if they are effective. It emphasizes the need to use hard power to ensure the triumph of so-called free democratic powers, while clearly asserting that certain cultures-civilizations-have proven to be "mediocre, if not harmful," and advancing the thesis that the disarmament of Germany and Japan, imposed after World War II, must be repealed. The Manifesto also urges Americans to abandon their fear of nuclear war.

Palantir is among the corporations closest to Trump, which are believed to have helped him win the election and influence his policies.

Warning: The Sudden Push for New "Child Safety," Age-Verification Laws for Internet Has Nothing to do With Child Safety. It is Surveillance and Control. | Coronavirus News

The first step to understanding the sudden rush toward Internet "age verification" is to discard the notion that it has anything to do with child safety. The politicians pushing it are the same ones remaining silent on the lack of prosecutions after release of the Epstein files.

Armed WHCD suspected shooter Cole Allen seen bolting through metal detector in new, high-quality video

12bytes: Some people have said Allen wasn't carrying a long gun, Larry Johnson (former CIA) among them. The newer, higher res video clearly shows that these claims are false and the events in the video matches the earlier low resolution version.

The Justice Department on Thursday released the clearest footage yet of White House Correspondents' Dinner shooting suspect Cole Allen charging the Washington Hilton ballroom security checkpoint as part of the alleged assasination attempt against President Trump.

The video, shared on social media by DC US Attorney Jeanine Pirro, appears to show that Allen was armed with a rifle during his mad dash.