Hegseth testifies before Congress; 52 ships breach US 'blockade'; Erasing Palestine - IRAN WAR NEWS - 29-Apr-2026 (update 2)

UPDATE 2

Why the US is at War with Iran. Why the War Might Pause but Won't End - Global Research

The war on Iran is part of a decades-spanning US project to assume complete control over the Middle East and the oil and gas that is produced and exported from the region.

This is not as a means of taking the energy for the United States' own use but to establish and enhance a US monopoly over energy production and exports from the US itself and from the nations and regions the US is assuming control over.

This includes most recently Venezuela in Latin America. The early 2026 US war of aggression against the Venezuelan state, kidnapping of the Venezuelan president, and taking hostage of the remaining Venezuelan government led to the almost immediate cutting of Venezuelan oil exports to China and the distribution of Venezuelan oil wealth to US corporations.

A similar war of aggression by the US against Russia through Ukraine is also quickly expanding into a war directly against Russian energy production, storage, and export infrastructure through the use of drones that - while attributed to Ukraine - the New York Times has revealed are actually overseen by the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the US military.

Brian Berletic: U.S. Is Grooming Europe for War with Russia

Brian Berletic is a former US Marine, author, international relations expert and host of the New Atlas. Berletic discusses how the US pursues strategic sequencing to defeat one adversary at a time, with a division of labour that undermines the security of its frontline states. Europe is being prepared for war with Russia.

April 29: Iran defies US blockade as national unity surges while crisis deepens in Washington

A senior Iranian security source, speaking to Press TV, warned that the US "naval piracy and banditry" will soon face "practical and unprecedented response," as millions filled the streets nationwide to reaffirm allegiance to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Sayyed Mojtaba Khamenei, on the birth anniversary of Imam Reza (AS).

[...]

Key developments on day 61 of the war, the twenty-second day of the ceasefire:

• The continued American maritime piracy and banditry in the form of so-called "naval blockade" will soon be met with "practical and unprecedented action," a high-ranking security source told Press TV on Wednesday.
• Millions of Iranians took to the streets of Tehran and other cities nationwide to renew their pledge of allegiance to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Khamenei, on the birth anniversary of Imam Reza (AS), the eighth Shia Imam.
• Iran's Parliament Speaker Qalibaf said the Iranian nation will once again defeat US plots aimed at sowing division in the country through unity and faith.
• The IRGC Navy's deputy for political affairs, Mohammad Akbarzadeh, said the naval force's "surprise tactics" await the US in the event of any fresh miscalculation.
• Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi condemned the US-Israeli strikes against 130,000 civilian facilities, houses, hospitals and non-military infrastructure during the recent war of aggression against the country as a war crime and crime against humanity.
• Iran's ambassador to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani, underlined that the Islamic Republic reserves the right to confront the US seizure of Iranian vessels as part of Washington's continued illegal blockade against the country.
• Iravani also said that the "outlaw and terrorist" Israeli regime poses a significant threat to both regional and international peace and security.
• The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs denounced Bahraini authorities for their decision to strip citizenship of dozens of nationals on the pretext of "glorifying Iranian retaliatory operations" and "sympathising with" the Islamic Republic during the recent US-Israeli war of aggression.
• The spokesman for the Iranian Parliament's Planning and Budget Committee, Abbas Ghodrati, asserted that the nation's oil is being sold at twice the contracted price.
• Iran's Minister of Sports, Ahmad Donyamali, citing human casualties and widespread destruction of sports infrastructure in recent US and Israeli attacks, urged the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to take a firm stance, suspend Israeli sports activities, and investigate the damage.
• Minister of Information and Communications Technology Sattar Hashemi called on the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) to condemn US-Israeli strikes on Iran's telecommunication infrastructure.
• Yemen's foreign ministry warned against the adventurism and barbarism of the Trump administration in the Persian Gulf and declared Sana'a's support for Iran's measures in the Strait of Hormuz.
• Head of Iran's Red Crescent Society Pir Hossein Kolivand called on the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to take a firm stance against US-Israeli atrocities against civilians in the country.
• Members of Congress grilled US War Secretary Pete Hegseth over the enormous cost of the joint American-Israeli military aggression against Iran. The hearing on Wednesday came after the Pentagon revealed that the aggression against Iran has cost the United States some $25 billion so far.
• US President Donald Trump's approval rating has fallen to 34 percent, down from 36 percent, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll, as dissatisfaction grows over the cost of living and the imposed war against Iran.
• A US Senate hearing exposed concerns that US homeland missile defences are dangerously misaligned with modern warfare, according to a report.
• At least ten people, including three rescue workers, were killed in Israeli airstrikes targeting residential neighbourhoods in southern Lebanon, marking the latest violations of a ceasefire that began on April 16.
• European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned that the repercussions of the US-Israeli war against Iran could last for years, as soaring energy prices continue to threaten global markets.
• According to data from the American Automobile Association (AAA), the United States is currently facing a significant spike in gasoline prices, with the average cost reaching its highest point in nearly four years.
• A majority of Israeli settlers believe the occupying entity's military has failed to achieve anything since October 2023, amid ongoing wars, internal divisions, and mounting legal pressure on Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
• The United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced it will exit OPEC on Friday, ending decades of membership.
• Crude prices surged after Trump signalled he may reject Iran's proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude for June delivery climbed about 2.8 percent, reaching $111.26 per barrel.

Pentagon chief grilled in Congress over huge cost of war against Iran 

However, while facing questions from US lawmakers, Hegseth said the cost of the war, which is equal to the entire budget of the US space agency NASA for this year, was justified, while repeating the administration's false accusations about Iran's nuclear program.

"What would you pay to ensure Iran does not get a nuclear bomb? What would you pay?" Hegseth asked members of Congress.

The controversial US war minister, who is quite known for his odd behavior, burst into anger when faced with questions about the failure of the US aggression on Iran and the fact that Washington has not been able to conclude the war.

Hegseth called lawmakers who criticize the war and call it a quagmire a group of "reckless, feckless, and defeatist" Congressional Democrats.

He also refused to answer a question whether he had recommended President Donald Trump to start a war with Iran, while also avoiding clearly stating what Washington's plans were to prevent a closure by Iran of the Strait of Hormuz, which has caused global commodity and energy prices to skyrocket.

Asked about a February 28 attack on a school in southern Iran, which killed nearly 170 children and teachers and caused global uproar, the defense minister repeated previous statements that the attack is under investigation.

Trump Says US Maintains Negotiations With Iran Via Phone Calls

"We're having talks with them now, and we're not flying anymore with 18-hour flights every time we want to see a piece of paper. We're doing it telephonically," Trump told reporters.

US-Israeli strikes on 130,000 civilian sites amount to war crime, Iran tells ICRC

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi has condemned the US-Israeli strikes against 130,000 civilian facilities, houses, hospitals and non-military infrastructure during the recent war of aggression against the country as a war crime and crime against humanity.

Israeli military intercepts Gaza-bound aid vessel off Greek coast | Middle East Eye

"Our boats were approached by military speedboats, self-identified as 'Israel', pointing lasers and semi-automatic assault weapons ordering participants to the front of the boats and to get on their hands and knees," the Global Sumud Flotilla aid mission said in a statement

"Boat communications are being jammed and a SOS was issued."

Israel Army Radio cited an Israeli source as saying that Israel had begun seizing control of aid ships heading towards Gaza well before they reached Israeli territorial waters.

Ultra-Orthodox protests over draft law spread across Israel | Middle East Eye

Ultra-Orthodox Jews have staged protests across Israel against military conscription, with police using stun grenades to disperse demonstrations in Jerusalem.

IN OTHER NEWS...

Germany awards top honors to Israeli officials after major defense deal - Yemen Press Agency

BERLIN, April 29 (YPA) -The German army awarded honorary decorations to two senior officers in the Wall Directorate of the Israeli Defense Ministry's Defense Security Cooperation Agency, in recognition of their significant contribution to security cooperation between the countries and for leading Germany's project to equip itself with the "Arrow 3" weapons system

The pendulum swings: The slow death of Europe's pro-Israel consensus - Middle East Monitor

The European Union is the "chief of all cowards," Amnesty International declared in a searing statement issued on April 21. The condemnation was a direct response to the European bloc's systemic failure to sever ties with Israel during the Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg.

UPDATE 1

60 days later: The US-Israeli war on Iran so far - RT World News

Sixty days into the US-Israeli war on Iran, peace talks are stalled and the world is bracing for yet more economic pain. RT asks how we got here, and who - if anyone - is really winning in the Persian Gulf?

April 29 marks 60 days since the US and Israel launched their war on Iran. The initial hours of the conflict were marked by extreme brutality. An American missile strike killed more than 160 schoolgirls at an elementary school in Minab and dozens of the Iranian political and clerical elite were killed along with their families in missile attacks. A quick and decisive victory, it seemed, was at hand for Washington and West Jerusalem.

Things did not go according to plan.

U.S. Prepares For Extended Blockade On Iran

United States President Donald Trump has instructed aides to prepare for an extended blockade of Iran, The Wall Street Journal reported on April 28, citing American officials.

12bytes: Iran made an offer to open the strait and shelve the nuclear stuff until later. It will be interesting to see how the US handles this. If the US' goal is to wage economic war on Russia and China as i suspect, then it will not accept the deal because curbing shipping to China is a key ingredient of that plan. Not accepting the deal however, will be a further embarrassment of the US and will draw more outrage from the global community, though it this administration truly doesn't seem to care. Trump's approval rating is in the toilet, yet he continues the war regardless which suggests that a much bigger game is being played, that being the Russia-China issue.

Iran Vows 'Unprecedented' Military Response To U.S. Blockade

The continued "American maritime piracy and banditry" in the form of a "naval blockade" will soon be met with "practical and unprecedented military action," a senior Iranian security source told Press TV on April 29.

US spent $25B on Iran war as Pentagon seeks $1.5T budget - Middle East Monitor

The US has spent approximately $25 billion on the war against Iran, according to a senior Pentagon official who testified before a House committee on Wednesday, Anadolu reports.

Iran To Reverse Engineer 15 Unexploded American Munitions

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed on April 26 that it recovered unexploded American munitions from strikes on the territories of the Islamic Republic and transferred them to technical and research units for reverse engineering - including, according to Iranian state media, a fully intact GBU-57 series Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bomb that failed to detonate.

Israel approves 126 illegal settlement units in northern West Bank - Middle East Monitor

The move marks a renewed push to expand illegal settlement activity in the area, which had previously been evacuated as part of Israel's 2005 disengagement plan.

Israeli strike kills five family members in Lebanon | Israel attacks Lebanon | Al Jazeera

An Israeli air attack on a residential building in Jebchit town in Lebanon has killed five members of the same family. Video from the scene shows the area in ruins.

Doctors Without Borders: Israel deprives Gaza of life-saving water - Middle East Monitor

The medical organisation Doctors Without Borders has warned that Israel is deliberately depriving people in the Gaza Strip of life-saving water and condemned what it said was Israel' s policy of collective punishment.

In a report titled "Water as a Weapon", MSF said the widespread destruction of Gaza's civilian water infrastructure, combined with restrictions on access, forms part of a broader pattern of harm against the population.

Israeli defence minister sanctions Gaza aid flotilla | Middle East Eye

Israel's Defence Minister, Israel Katz, signed an order to impose sanctions against the fundraising campaign of the Global Sumud Flotilla sailing toward the Gaza Strip to break the Israeli blockade and deliver continuous humanitarian aid.

The ministry claimed in a statement that the flotilla, which includes about 100 vessels that left from Turkey, Spain, and Italy, violates UN resolutions and undermines the Trump administration's regional settlement efforts.

Two people stabbed in suspected anti-Semitic attack in London - RT World News

Two members of the Jewish community have been stabbed in a suspected anti-Semitic attack in London, with the assailant now in custody.

Democrats threaten to sue Trump over Iran war - Time - RT World News

The debate is intensifying as a 60-day legal deadline, falling on May 1, approaches, under which the White House must obtain congressional authorization for the war or halt the operation. The White House has not indicated it plans to seek approval, the outlet wrote on Tuesday.

Democrats say the war violates US law, as Trump initiated it without congressional approval and could continue operations beyond the legal limit.

Trump's Hormuz illusion: Why American oil will not protect US households - Middle East Monitor

Donald Trump has leaned on a simple argument throughout the Iran war: the United States produces so much oil that the Strait of Hormuz is no longer America's problem. It is an appealing line because it sounds like strength and independence at once. It is also deeply misleading. The real question is not whether the US still imports as much Gulf oil as it once did. It does not. The real question is whether Americans live inside a global energy system whose prices are still shaped by what happens in Hormuz. They do. And that means a serious shock in the strait would still hit the United States hard, not through dependence in the old import sense, but through exposure to globally priced oil, fuel, freight and inflation.

12bytes: It's not just oil. There are a lot of other crucial commodities that pass through the strait.

Reuters: Trump's approval rating has dropped to a record low amid concerns about rising living costs due to the war with Iran.

President Donald Trump's approval rating has dropped to its lowest level during his current term as Americans become increasingly disillusioned with his actions to address the cost of living and the unpopular war with Iran, according to a new Reuters/Ipsos poll.

US blockade of Iranian ports drives up oil prices - Yemen Press Agency

WORLD, April 29 (YPA) - Oil prices extended their rally for the eighth consecutive day, driven by reports of US plans to tighten the blockade on Iranian ports, a move that threatens to deepen supply disruptions in the Middle East.

Consequently, Brent crude rose by 0.47% to reach $111.78 per barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) climbed 0.57% to settle at $100.50.

UN: Ship traffic through Strait of Hormuz drops 95 % - Middle East Monitor

UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told a daily press briefing on Tuesday that data from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development shows vessel movements through the strait have dropped by 95.3 per cent since the war began on 28 February.

Dujarric added that restrictions on the waterway have pushed up basic food prices by 6 per cent, while crude oil prices for Europe have risen by 53 per cent.

US gasoline prices hit four-year high as Europe faces jet fuel crisis amid war on Iran

New data has revealed that the United States is currently facing a significant spike in gasoline prices, with the average cost reaching its highest point in nearly four years.

Italy hit by soaring energy costs as war on Iran drives up fuel, gas prices

Citizens around the world continue to bear the brunt of the war imposed by the United States and Israel on Iran.

The conflict has driven new spikes in fuel prices and gas bills in Italy, forcing households to spend billions of euros more in just two months.

Saudi giant extends suspension on LPG deliveries after key site damaged - Bloomberg - RT World News

Saudi Arabia's petroleum and natural gas giant Aramco is suspending liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) through May due to damage at its main export facility, Bloomberg has reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

IN OTHER NEWS...

Founding Felons: Jefferson Would Be on a Watch List Today-You Might Be Next - Global Research

We are being asked-no, told-to believe that the greatest threat to America today is not government overreach, endless war, corruption, surveillance, or the steady erosion of constitutional rights.

No, the real threat, it seems, is speech.

Dangerous speech. Hateful speech. Critical speech. Speech that dares to challenge power.

In the wake of the reported assassination attempt on President Trump, the Trump administration has wasted no time advancing a dangerous narrative: that criticism of the president-especially criticism labeling him authoritarian or fascist-is not just wrong, but responsible for violence.

END UPDATES

Iran war: What's happening on day 61 as UAE exits OPEC? | US-Israel war on Iran News | Al Jazeera

US President Donald Trump says Iran is in a "state of collapse" and has urged a swift lifting of the US blockade, as Gulf leaders meeting in Saudi Arabia call on Tehran to rebuild trust after "treacherous" regional attacks.

Meanwhile, Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon have killed three emergency workers, in what Lebanese President Joseph Aoun described as a "war crime".

Here is what we know:

In Iran

• Iran army spokesman praises air force role: Mohammad Akraminia said Iran's air force carried out strikes on "enemy bases" across the region and penetrated US-designed defences, saying more than 170 aircraft were hit during the six weeks of war.
• "If the enemy again commits aggression and threatens the security of this land, they will face a more crushing response than before. We have many winning cards that we have not yet used," he added.

War diplomacy

• Trump slams Merz: Trump lashed out at German Chancellor Friedrich Merz over the Iran war, after comments by Merz that Tehran is "humiliating" Washington at the negotiating table. Merz said that "the Americans obviously have no strategy", to which Trump said the chancellor "thinks it's OK for Iran to have a nuclear weapon."
• Houthis back Iran, say they are 'not neutral': Yemen's rebels condemned US "piracy", voiced support for Iran, Lebanon and Palestine, and warned they could shut the Bab al-Mandeb Strait as tensions escalate.
• EU lawmaker questions Israel sanctions stance: Marc Botenga criticised the EU for considering sanctions over alleged trade in Ukrainian grain linked to Russia, but not over actions in Gaza, asking why measures target "stolen grain" rather than alleged war crimes.

In the Gulf

• UAE to leave OPEC after nearly 60 years: The United Arab Emirates says it will exit OPEC on Friday, ending decades of membership in the oil-producing cartel.
• Gulf states condemn Iran over Hormuz threat: Leaders of Gulf Arab countries rejected Tehran's "illegal actions" to close the Strait of Hormuz and endanger shipping, warning against any disruption or transit fees.
• Meeting under the Gulf Cooperation Council in Saudi Arabia, they called for restoring "security and freedom of navigation" to pre-war levels and pushed for deeper military integration.

In the US

• US Treasury says blockade will force Iran oil cuts: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says US measures targeting Iran's shadow banking, crypto access and oil networks have hit revenues and weakened its economy, adding that the blockade is pushing Kharg Island near capacity and could force production cuts costing about $170m a day.
• Trump says Charles agrees on Iran nuclear weapons: Trump, hosting King Charles III at the White House, said during a state dinner that his administration's Middle East efforts were "going very well" and claimed Iran had been "militarily defeated", adding "Charles agrees" that Tehran must never be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon.
• Trump hints at divisions in Iran leadership: Reporting from Washington, DC, Al Jazeera's Mike Hanna said Trump has claimed Iran is in a "state of collapse"; the rhetoric appears aimed at pressuring Tehran back to talks as Washington maintains its red line on preventing a nuclear weapon.
• Despite reports that Iran has offered to reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for delaying nuclear negotiations, the US is said to oppose postponing those talks, leaving the situation in limbo even as a ceasefire holds for now.
• Trump approval hits new low amid Iran war concerns: The US president's approval rating has fallen to 34 percent, down from 36, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll, as dissatisfaction grows over the cost of living and the war with Iran.

In Israel

• Ultra-Orthodox protesters storm police chief's home: Anti-conscription demonstrators broke into the home of Yuval Yamin in Ashkelon, barricading themselves in his garden after a court ruling targeting draft evasion.
• Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the "violent attack" and called for firm action.

In Lebanon

• Israeli 'double-tap' strike kills five in south Lebanon: Heidi Pett, reporting from Tyre, said five people, including three medics, were killed in a strike on rescue workers, with two soldiers wounded. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam called it a "war crime".
• Israeli forces have continued air strikes, shelling and demolitions, while Hezbollah has stepped up drone attacks and rocket fire, highlighting fragile ceasefire conditions.

Global economy

• Oil jumps, stocks slide: Crude prices surged after Trump signalled he may reject Iran's proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, while Qatar warned the crisis could turn into a prolonged "frozen conflict," weighing on equities. Brent crude for June delivery climbed about 2.8 percent, reaching $111.26 per barrel.

Pentagon chief to testify on Iran war | Middle East Eye

US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth will face tough questions from lawmakers about the Iran war on Wednesday during his first testimony to Congress since the confict began.

Hegseth's appearance before the House Armed Services Committee - for a hearing on President Donald Trump's $1.5 trillion defence budget request - comes with the war still unresolved and the economic fallout from it continuing around the globe.

Lawmakers from both parties have previously expressed dissatisfaction with the information provided in classified briefings on the war, setting up a potentially fiery public hearing in which top US military officer General Dan Caine is also set to testify.

Iran ties lifting of blockade to reopening Hormuz Strait as US reviews proposal - Middle East Monitor

Under the Iranian proposal, which Islamabad has conveyed to Washington, the Strait of Hormuz would be reopened, the naval blockade lifted, and military operations halted, while the nuclear issue would be postponed to a later stage.

The move is seen as an attempt to separate urgent matters from more complex and disputed issues, allowing for interim progress that could ease tensions.

On the 21st day of the truce, the United States continues to review the Iranian offer. US President Donald Trump has discussed the proposal with his senior national security advisers.

In this context, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said the administration's position has not changed so far, stressing what she described as Trump's "red lines" towards Iran remain in place.

Trump tells aides to prepare for extended blockade of Iran: Report - Middle East Monitor

Citing US officials, the report said that in recent meetings, Trump opted to continue squeezing Iran's economy and oil exports by preventing shipping to and from its ports.

He assessed that his other options-resume bombing or walk away from the conflict-carried more risk than maintaining the blockade, officials added, the report said.

Bibi's Big Lie and Why Pluto Didn't Bark In Tehran - Antiwar.com

Well, it bears repeating. Again. The Iranians never had a nuke, had no near-term prospect of weaponizing their enriched uranium stockpiles, were not hell-bent on blowing up the world and were not two weeks from anything other than still another wolf-crying episode from the one actual "crazy" leader in the middle east. That would be Bibi Netanyahu. Hands down.

But those truths did not stop the Donald from blatant lying and fear-mongering yet again today. And to even go so far as to imply that he has the mullahs by the short hairs.

Trump: "Iran, they are not going to have a nuclear weapon. They are not going to blow up the world. They are crazy. And therefore, they are not happy.

The truth is, however, the Donald surely does not have anyone who is crazy up against any kind of negotiating wall. They Iranians are never going to give up their nukes because by the lights of his own DNI (Director of National Intelligence), Tulsi Gabbard, they don't have anything to give up-including even scribbled plans on how to make a homemade nuke:

"The IC [U.S. Intelligence Community] continues to assess that Iran is not building a nuclear weapon and Supreme Leader Khamenei has not authorized the nuclear weapons program that he suspended in 2003."

No More Bombs for Iran, Economic War Instead?

Trump assembled his national security team in Washington on Monday afternoon to figure out how to respond to Iran's latest missive delivered via Pakistan - i.e., end the blockade and then we'll talk about other issues. The Wall Street Journal reports that Trump opted for economic warfare against Iran as it carried less risk, instead of resuming bombing or trying to exit the conflict. That's the good news. However, President Trump also instructed White House aides to prepare for an extended blockade on Iran.

[...]

Notwithstanding the US blockade, Iran continues to fill oil tankers that are sailing out of the Persian Gulf. Iran has continued loading oil onto tankers even as the US blocks their route out. [...]

Since the start of the conflict, at least 52 "ghost fleet" tankers laden with Iranian oil have left the Persian Gulf, some broadcasting their signals and others operating clandestinely. These tankers are en route to Malaysia to conduct ship-to-ship transfers with other vessels bound for China.

[...]

What about imports for Iran? According to the Fars News Agency, Pakistan has opened six corridors with Iran to bypass the US blockade. More than 3,000 containers bound for Iran are being transited over land.

Col. Larry Wilkerson: Trump's Own Advisors Now SPLIT on Iran - Israel's Plan DECIMATED

Discussion covers escalating US-Iran tensions, unconventional diplomacy, and conflict risks. Security incident analysis raises public trust questions. Iran's diplomatic tour to Pakistan, Oman, and Russia seeks regional solutions for the Strait of Hormuz. Conversations explore dwindling US diplomatic capacity, expanding Russia-Iran-China cooperation, and India's new Agni-5 missile development. Dialogue examines Israel's Lebanon operations, erosion of international law, and how zero-sum US foreign policy accelerates geopolitical realignment. Emphasis on diplomacy, compromise, and multilateral approaches to secure critical global trade chokepoints essential for energy and commerce. Insights on BRICS dynamics, Eurasian partnerships, and the urgent need to revive international frameworks for managing strategic waterways amid shifting global power structures.

Report: 52 Iranian ships breach US blockade within 72 hours - Middle East Monitor

According to the report, which cited satellite tracking data covering the three days leading up to 10:00 pm local time on Monday, the vessels included 31 oil tankers and 21 cargo ships.

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

BEIRUT, April 29 (YPA) - The Islamic Resistance in Lebanon (Hezbollah) carried out six operations against Israeli targets in response to repeated violations of the ceasefire in southern Lebanon.

Hezbollah issued six consecutive statements on Tuesday to illustrate the Resistance operations and their outcomes.

1- At 13:00, in response to the demolition of homes in the villages of southern Lebanon, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted an "Israeli" military bulldozer while it was demolishing homes in the city of Bint Jbeil with an attack drone, achieving a confirmed hit.

2- At 13:00, in response to the attacks that affected villages in southern Lebanon and resulted in the martyrdom of civilians and the wounding of others, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of "israeli" enemy army soldiers in the square of Al-Qantara town with an attack drone, achieving a confirmed hit.

3- At 14:00, in response to the attacks that affected villages and the demolition of homes in southern Lebanon, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a "Merkava" tank in the square of Al-Qantara town with an attack drone, achieving a confirmed hit.

4- At 18:10, in response to its violation of Lebanese airspace, the Islamic Resistance fighters shot down an "Israeli" enemy army drone of the type "Hermes 900" in the skies of Al-Qantara town with a surface-to-air missile.

5- At 18:30, in response to the attacks that affected villages in southern Lebanon and resulted in the martyrdom of civilians and the wounding of others, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of "Israeli" enemy army soldiers in the town of Taybeh with a swarm of attack drones.

6- At 23:20, in response to the attacks that affected villages in southern Lebanon and resulted in the martyrdom of civilians and the wounding of others, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of "Israeli" enemy army soldiers in the newly established Namir Al-Jamal site with a swarm of attack drones, achieving a confirmed hit.

Two Palestinian children injured in stabbing attack in occupied Negev - Yemen Press Agency

Palestinian sources, citing medical officials, said emergency teams provided first aid to the children, aged 9 and 12, at a local clinic before transferring them to Soroka Medical Center for further treatment.

Medical sources said the 9-year-old is in serious but stable condition, while the 12-year-old suffered injuries ranging from moderate to minor.

The incident comes amid growing concerns over rising violence in Palestinian communities inside Israel.

Zionist forces detain dozens of Palestinians during wide-ranging raids across West Bank - Yemen Press Agency

WEST BANK, April 29 (YPA) - Israeli occupation forces detained several Palestinians on Wednesday, following a wide-ranging campaign of raids and incursions targeting multiple cities and towns across the occupied West Bank and East Quds (Jerusalem), amid a heavy military deployment and extensive house-to-house searches.

Five Lebanese, including three paramedics, killed in Israeli Airstrike on southern Lebanon - Yemen Press Agency

BEIRUT, April 29 (YPA) - Five Lebanese citizens, including three paramedics from the Lebanese Civil Defense, were killed on Tuesday evening following an Israeli airstrike on the town of Majdal Zoun in the Tyre district, southern Lebanon, the National News Agency reported, citing the health ministry.

According to the ministry, an Israeli airstrike on Majdal Zoun resulted, in a preliminary toll, in the killing of five people, including three civil defense paramedics who were trapped under the rubble after being targeted while carrying out a rescue mission.

Haaretz: Israeli civilian contractors paid per building destroyed in Lebanon | Middle East Eye

The Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that Israeli civilian contractors have been carrying out demolition operations in southern Lebanon, citing testimony from soldiers who said army units were tasked with providing protection during the work.

The report said companies are paid based on the number of buildings demolished in villages and towns.

According to the newspaper, field accounts suggested that a significant part of Israeli activity in the area centres on the systematic destruction of structures rather than direct combat.

Arizona lawmakers back move to replace "West Bank" with "Judea and Samaria" in official use - Middle East Monitor

Lawmakers in the US state of Arizona have approved a resolution calling on state institutions to use the term "Judea and Samaria" instead of "West Bank" in official documents, in a move that has drawn political attention.

[...]

The term "Judea and Samaria" is commonly used in Israeli political and historical contexts to refer to the West Bank, while the area is internationally recognised as occupied Palestinian territory under international law.

IN OTHER NEWS...

Senate Blocks Bid to Limit Trump's Power to Invade Cuba - 29.04.2026, Sputnik International

The US Senate has rejected a measure that sought to restrict President Donald Trump's ability to launch military action against Cuba without congressional approval.

The United States will purchase more than 850 THAAD missiles due to depletion of stocks

The US military risks a shortage of precision-guided missiles due to the ongoing conflict with Iran.

The journalists explained that the defense department is requesting more than 23 times more interceptors compared to the 2026 fiscal year. According to their data, the total request for the implementation of the program is $11.435 billion.

Earlier, Aviation Week magazine reported that the United States had used up its stocks of PrSM missiles at the beginning of the conflict in the Middle East.