'Project Freedom' fails; Iran (not US) to open Hormuz, for now; Israel wants war - IRAN WAR NEWS - 6-May-2026 (update 2)

UPDATE 2

In rare push, US lawmakers demand transparency on Israel nuclear capability | Donald Trump News | Al Jazeera

While Israel is believed to have possessed nuclear weapons since the 1960s, it maintains "a policy of nuclear opacity, never officially confirming the existence of its nuclear weapons program and arsenal", according to the Washington, DC-based Nuclear Threat Initiative.

[...]

In its letter to Rubio, US lawmakers noted that the "public record strongly and consistently supports the conclusion that Israel possesses nuclear weapons". It pointed to a 1974 US Special National Intelligence Estimate and several statements by US and Israeli officials.

US officials included former defence secretary nominee Robert Gates, who, during testimony to the Senate Armed Services Committee in 2006, listed Israel as one of the world's "powers with nuclear weapons".

The Nuclear Threat Initiative estimates that Israel has 90 nuclear warheads, a plutonium stockpile of 750 to 1,110kg (1,700 to 2,400lbs), six submarines capable of launching nuclear weapons, and intermediate-range ballistic missiles capable of reaching 4,800 to 6,500km (3,000 to 4,000 miles).

May 6: Iran consolidates diplomatic, military leverage as Trump pulls plug on Project Freedom

In another humiliating retreat, US President Donald Trump announced the "pause" in so-called "Project Freedom" to force open the Strait of Hormuz after facing asymmetric Iranian deterrence.

Iran's authority continues to grow both militarily and diplomatically, as top officials declared that the Strait of Hormuz is firmly on a path towards stability while warning that any renewed US or Israeli act of aggression will incur a decisive and humiliating cost.

Iran says ports ready to support shipping in Strait of Hormuz | Middle East Eye

Iran's Ports and Maritime Organisation said the country's ports are "fully ready" to provide maritime services, technical assistance and medical support to commercial vessels travelling through the Strait of Hormuz and surrounding regional waters.

Hezbollah says it carried out 17 attacks on Israeli forces in Lebanon | Middle East Eye

Hezbollah said its fighters launched 17 attacks on Israeli forces operating inside Lebanese territory on Wednesday.

In a statement, the group said it targeted Israeli soldiers and military vehicles in Qantara, Biyyada, Taybeh, Naqoura, Rishaf and Aita al-Shaab using drones and rockets.

Hezbollah also said it struck Israeli military equipment, including a personnel carrier in Qaouzah and a newly established command centre in Qantara.

Israeli strikes in Lebanon kill 16, wound 21, damage school despite ceasefire - Middle East Monitor

Israeli drone and air strikes in southern and eastern Lebanon killed 16 people and wounded 21 others, including paramedics, and damaged a school, Lebanese officials said on Wednesday, in the latest apparent violation of a ceasefire, Anadolu reports.

IN OTHER NEWS...

UK nurseries told to report 'racist' toddlers to police - RT World News

Childcare workers in Wales have been told to call police on children as young as three if they are suspected of "racist" behavior, according to a new official guidance backed by the Labour government.

UPDATE 1

Iran rejects 'flawed' US resolution on Hormuz, says only viable solution is end of war

Iran's permanent mission to the United Nations has reiterated that the only viable solution in the strategic Strait of Hormuz is a permanent end of hostilities against the Islamic Republic.

In a post on X on Wednesday, the mission urged the member states of the UN Security Council to reject a controversial US-drafted resolution, describing it as "flawed" and "politically motivated."

U.S. Army Says F/A-18 Fighter Jet Opened Fire At Iranian Tanker

United States forces operating in the Gulf of Oman enforced blockade measures by disabling an Iranian-flagged unladen oil tanker attempting to sail toward an Iranian port, the Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on May 6, following reports of progress in talks with the Islamic Republic.

Iran Shot Down U.S. MQ-9 Combat Drone Over Qeshm Island (Videos)

Iranian air defenses have apparently shot down an MQ-9 Reaper combat drone of the United States military over Qeshm Island on May 6.

State broadcaster IRIB reported, citing local officials, that air defense systems were activated against drones over Qeshm in the early morning. Several blasts were heard, and a video shared later in the day by the semi-official Tasnim News Agency showed a ball fire falling from the sky near the island.

Another video that was shared by the semi-official Fars News Agency afterwards showed locals in Qashm collecting what appears to be the wreckage of an MQ-9.

'Project Freedom' Or 'Project Market Manipulation'? - YouTube

Just two days into the US Administration's "Project Freedom," the project has been abandoned. No ships followed the US-claimed route out of the Hormuz Strait. It was a farce. But it did move markets as did its abandonment under the guise of yet another "deal" in the works. Which the Iranians have denied. What's going on?

Iran Inflicted "UNPRECEDENTED DESTRUCTION" On U.S. Bases Reports CNN! w/ Ray McGovern

May 5, 2026. CNN has finally reported on the severity of Iranian strikes that damaged at least 16 US military installations across eight countries ("the majority of American military positions in the region"), with some rendered "virtually unusable," destroying critical assets including Boeing E-3 Sentry aircraft worth nearly half a billion dollars, radar systems, and satellite domes, representing "unprecedented destruction" that a US source said they'd "never seen anything like."

Jimmy and guest Ray McGovern note that in retrospect, it appears that Trump's entire strategy in this war was, "Do whatever Bibi Netanyahu tells you to do" - confirmed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio's admission that "the Israelis told us they were going to attack Iran, and we thought they would probably retaliate against us."

Estimates show that rebuilding the damaged bases will cost between $44-77 billion and take up to a decade - meanwhile, as McGovern points out, Iran possesses an "inexhaustible supply" of missiles produced in underground mountain facilities, and Russia has issued a "completely unacceptable" warning to Trump against continuing the war.

'Israel' targets Beirut's Southern Suburb in grave escalation, new ceasefire violation - YouTube

A short while ago, "Israel" bombed a residential building in Haret Hreik in Beirut's Southern Suburb in a grave escalation and a new blatant ceasefire violation.

Israeli attack on Saksakiyeh in South Lebanon leaves it in utter destruction - YouTube

More footage emerges of the Israeli attack on Saksakiyeh in South Lebanon.

Al Mayadeen's correspondent had reported that the Israeli attack led to the martyrdom of four people and the injury of several others in a preliminary toll.

Israel orders demolition of nearly 50 Palestinian facilities near East Jerusalem for settlement project - Middle East Monitor

The Jerusalem Governorate said in a statement that Israeli authorities verbally notified around 50 Palestinians to evacuate their businesses in the Al-Mashtal area at the main entrance to Al-Eizariya before Sunday morning.

Israel to spend $730m on propaganda as global image collapses over Gaza genocide - Middle East Monitor

Israel is preparing to spend nearly three-quarters of a billion dollars on its propaganda apparatus, in a sign of growing alarm in Tel Aviv over its collapse in global standing following the genocide in Gaza and expanding wars across the region.

According to The Jerusalem Post, Israel's public diplomacy budget, known in Hebrew as hasbara, has risen to $730 million, more than four times the $150 million allocated the previous year. That earlier sum was itself reportedly around 20 times higher than Israel's pre-2023 spending on such efforts.

IN OTHER NEWS...

Federal Bill Would Bring OS-Level Age Verification to the Entire U.S.

A new bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives is pushing the age-verification debate to a new level, from individual state laws to a proposal that could eventually apply nationwide.

Filed as H.R. 8250 on April 13, 2026, the measure is titled "To require operating system providers to verify the age of any user of an operating system, and for other purposes." It was introduced by Rep. Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey and Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York, and has been referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

END UPDATES

The Surcharge Tax Americans Pay to Finance Israel-first Wars - Middle East Monitor

The next time you pull into a gas station, watch the number on the pump as you squeeze the handle. That rapidly spinning dollar amount is not just the price of gasoline. Included in it is an Israeli added tax you did not consent to pay.

Since early March 2026, the average American household has been spending 50 percent more to fill their tank than just one month earlier. The Trump administration and its Israel-first ideologues blamed market forces for the spike, framing it as short-term pain for long-term gain. What they will not say, what they are never permitted to say in Washington, is that Americans have been living the "pain" of the Israeli oil surcharge tax for more than half a century.

Brian Berletic on the pivot to Asia: DEEP DIVE: US Senate Hearing Reveals US Foreign Policy, Energy Dominance, Banning Chinese Cars (3/3) - YouTube

Part 1: • DEEP DIVE: US Senate Hearing Reveals US Fo...
Part 2: • DEEP DIVE: US Senate Hearing Reveals US Fo...
Part 3: • DEEP DIVE: US Senate Hearing Reveals US Fo...

US foreign policy is driven by US corporate interests but often buried by public political theater and daily headlines designed specifically to distract away from the true nature and purpose of US foreign policy objectives.

However, during US Senate and House hearings, there are relatively unfiltered discussions about these policies made public with a fair degree of confidence most Americans will NOT watch them.

I provide a breakdown of one of these hearings (April 21, 2026) focused on encircling, containing, and confronting China within the Asia-Pacific region - contradicting many of the misconceptions created by Western media using the words of US Senators and their witnesses themselves to do so.

Trump Halts 'Project Freedom' Amid Reports Of Near Deal With Iran

President Donald Trump announced on May 5 that the United States will be pausing the operation it launched just one day earlier to assist vessels stuck in the Strait of Hormuz due to progress made in talks toward a permanent ceasefire with Iran.

The operation, codenamed "Project Freedom," triggered a fierce response from the Islamic Republic, which opened fire at U.S. warships, targeted several commercial vessels, and renewed strikes on the United Arab Emirates.

US and Iran finalising 14-point memorandum to end war: Report | Middle East Eye

The US and Iran are moving closer to a one-page memorandum to end the war in the region, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.

"We will close this very soon. We are getting close," said one source from Pakistan, which is currently acting as a mediator between the two countries.

A 14-point, one-page memorandum would officially end the war, followed by talks regarding transit through the Strait of Hormuz and the US lifting sanctions on Iran, as well as discussions on Iran's nuclear programme.

IRGC announces 'safe and stable' transit through Hormuz with the end of US threats | Middle East Eye

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGC) said on Wednesday that with US threats coming to an end, "safe and stable" transit through the Strait of Hormuz will be ensured.

Citing the statement made by the IRGC, state media indicated that new procedures would be put in place, but did not specify what they could entail.

Israel seeks to resume attacks on Iran, message to Washington reveals - Middle East Monitor

Israel has sent a message to Washington saying its security and military leadership want to resume attacks on Iran, according to sources cited by the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation.

The report said Israel believes negotiations with Iran are a waste of time.

It added that Israel aims to use the current escalation in the Gulf to relaunch strikes on Iranian territory.

Military officials from Israel and the United States reportedly drew up a new target bank in April.

Most of the newly identified targets inside Iran are crude oil facilities, the report said.

If Iran does not agree to US deal, Trump says 'bombing starts' | Middle East Eye

"Assuming Iran agrees to give what has been agreed to, which is, perhaps, a big assumption, the already legendary Epic Fury will be at an end, and the highly effective Blockade will allow the Hormuz Strait to be OPEN TO ALL, including Iran," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

He threatened that if Tehran does not comply, "the bombing starts, and it will be, sadly, at a much higher level and intensity than it was before".

Iran's Pipe Dream: Why US Bases Are Not Going Anywhere - Middle East Monitor

[...] Iran has made the expulsion of American forces one of its stated demands in any future security framework for the region. Tehran's position is ideologically consistent, but strategically delusional. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states have no appetite for American withdrawal. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has made clear that the Kingdom's security architecture is inseparable from its partnership with Washington, stating that "the American presence is not a burden. It is a foundation upon which the stability of the entire region rests." Qatar, home to Al Udeid Air Base, the largest American military installation outside the continental United States, pays directly to host US forces and has repeatedly signaled that this arrangement serves its sovereign interests.

Israel's Netanyahu appears in court for 84th hearing in corruption trial - Middle East Monitor

The cases, known as "1000," "2000" and "4000," center on allegations that Netanyahu received valuable gifts from wealthy businessmen in exchange for favors, sought favorable media coverage from a newspaper publisher and granted regulatory benefits to a telecommunications executive in return for positive coverage on a news website.

In addition to the domestic corruption trial, Netanyahu has been wanted since 2024 by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza Strip, where the Israeli army has killed more than 72,000 people and injured over 172,000 others in a brutal offensive since October 2023.

Israeli aggression escalates in south Lebanon as Hezbollah inflicts heavy losses on regime

The Israeli regime has escalated attacks on southern Lebanon in recent days, conducting at least 150 strikes in just three days.

The intensified air raids have targeted a variety of places, including residential neighborhoods. However, the Hezbollah resistance movement has responded powerfully, using new drones that have left Israeli forces struggling to adapt.

Israel orders evacuations for 12 villages in Lebanon before planned strikes | Middle East Eye

Residents of Kaouthariyet al-Saiyad, Ghassaniyeh, Mazraat al-Daoudiyeh, Bedias, Rihan, Zellaya, Bazouriye, Harouf, Habboush, Ansariyeh, Qalaouiyeh and Deir ez-Zahrani were instructed to move at least one kilometre away, with most of the villages located north of the Litani River.

Israeli army arrests 17 Palestinians, demolishes home in West Bank raids - Middle East Monitor

Israeli troops carried out raids across multiple areas in the West Bank, arresting "at least 17 Palestinians, including two women and child," the Prisoners' Media Office said in a statement.

The office said forces raided homes, searched properties and damaged belongings during the raids, which were concentrated in Nablus, Bethlehem, Hebron and Ramallah.

In a separate development, Israeli forces sealed off the town of Turmus Ayya, northeast of Ramallah, blocking all entrances with earth mounds and isolating it from surrounding areas, local official Abdullah Awad said.

IN OTHER NEWS...

US greenlights bomb deal for Ukraine - RT World News

The administration of US President Donald Trump has approved the potential sale of precision-guided bomb kits worth $373.6 million to Ukraine, following congressional pressure over stalled arms deliveries.