Published on: 04/30/2026 - 04:42 Modified on: 05/01/2026 - 05:07

New Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon left at least 17 dead on Thursday, the Ministry of Health announced, despite the ceasefire in force since April 17. The US Embassy in Beirut has called for a meeting between Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Here is the thread for April 30, 2026.

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FIFA Congress: Palestinian leader refuses photo with Israeli leader

The president of the Palestinian football federation, Jibril Rajoub, refused to shake hands and appear in a photo with an Israeli football leader, Basim Sheikh Suliman, during a tense moment at the FIFA Congress on Thursday in Vancouver, Canada.

After the two leaders addressed delegates from the podium, Fifa boss Gianni Infantino invited them both to pose alongside him. Jibril Rajoub refused the invitation several times despite the insistence of the FIFA president.

The death toll from strikes in Lebanon rises to 17 on Thursday

New Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon left at least seventeen dead on Thursday, despite the ceasefire in force since April 17.

The Ministry of Health reported seventeen deaths, including at least five women and two children.

This report includes an Israeli drone attack against a group of people "gathered near the cemetery" of Zebdine, a town in southern Lebanon, according to Ani.

The Lebanese army also declared that one of its soldiers and “several members of his family” had been killed in a strike which targeted their home in the Nabatiyé region (south). The ministry did not immediately report this.

Iran: anti-aircraft defense takes action against small planes and drones

Air defense systems went into action Thursday evening against small planes and drones in the skies over Tehran, Iranian media reported.

The Tasnim and Fars news agencies reported that, according to available information, the air defense systems were activated "to counter small aircraft and reconnaissance drones", without providing further details.

They had previously reported their activation, without specifying whether it was an exercise or the neutralization of hostile aircraft. “The noise of the anti-aircraft defense stopped after about 20 minutes of activity and response against small aircraft,” they said, adding that Tehran was once again in a “normal situation”.

After Germany, Trump plans to reduce troops in Italy and Spain

President Donald Trump said Thursday that he is considering a reduction in U.S. armed forces stationed in Italy and Spain, due to those countries' attitudes on the war against Iran.

Asked by reporters in the Oval Office about the possibility of reducing the number of American troops in Spain and Italy, the president replied in the affirmative: "Probably, I probably will. Why not?" “Italy has not given us any help and Spain has been odious, absolutely odious,” he continued, criticizing his NATO allies for not having come to the aid of the United States since the start of the conflict triggered on February 28 by the Israeli-American strikes on Iran.

Donald Trump accuses several European partners in particular of refusing any military or logistical contribution to operations carried out by Washington in the Strait of Hormuz.

Washington strongly condemns 'Gaza flotilla' after arrest by Israel

The United States strongly condemned the “Gaza flotilla” which was intercepted by the Israeli army off the coast of Crete, calling it an initiative controlled by Hamas and “counterproductive”.

"The United States condemns the flotilla, a pro-Hamas initiative that constitutes an unfounded and counterproductive attempt to undermine President Trump's peace plan" for the Gaza Strip, State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said in a statement.

Noise from air defense systems heard in Tehran, cause unknown

The activation of air defense systems was heard Thursday evening in Tehran, but the cause of their activation is not known at this stage, Iranian media said.

"The noise of the activation of anti-aircraft defenses was heard in parts of Tehran. It is not yet known whether this noise is linked to a defense test or to the neutralization of possible 'reconnaissance drones'" in the skies of the Iranian capital, the Tasnim and Fars news agencies reported.

US Embassy in Beirut says Lebanon is at a 'turning point', calls for meeting with Netanyahu

The US Embassy in Beirut called for a meeting between Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday.

"Lebanon is at a turning point. Its people have a historic opportunity to take control of their country and forge its future as a truly sovereign and independent nation," the embassy said on X, two weeks after US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire in the war between Israel and the Lebanese pro-Iranian movement Hezbollah, adding that "the time for hesitation is over."

A direct meeting between Joseph Aoun and Benjamin Netanyahu, "facilitated by President Trump, would offer Lebanon the opportunity to obtain tangible guarantees on full sovereignty, territorial integrity, border security, humanitarian and reconstruction aid, as well as the complete restoration of the authority of the Lebanese state over every square centimeter of its territory — guaranteed by the United States," the embassy adds.

The Emirates bans its nationals from traveling to Iran, Lebanon and Iraq

The United Arab Emirates on Thursday banned its nationals from traveling to Iran, Lebanon and Iraq, citing developments in the region.

“In light of current regional developments,” the country's Foreign Ministry issued “a travel ban on Emirati nationals traveling to the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Lebanese Republic and the Republic of Iraq,” the official WAM news agency reported, saying it called on “all Emirati nationals currently in these countries to expedite their immediate return.”

Iran targeted the Emirates, with missile attacks targeting civil and energy infrastructure, during the conflict triggered on February 28 by the Israeli-American attack on Tehran, before the announcement of a fragile ceasefire.

Lebanon: at least fifteen dead, including two children, in Israeli strikes (ministry)

New Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon left at least fifteen dead on Thursday, the Ministry of Health said, despite the ceasefire in force since April 17.

The Lebanese army also declared that one of its soldiers and “several members of his family” had been killed in a strike targeting their home in the Nabatiyé region (south). The ministry did not immediately report the attack.

Despite the truce, extended until mid-May, the Israeli army continues its strikes, mainly in the south, where its spokesperson published several evacuation notices on Thursday for around twenty localities.

World Cup-2026: Trump says he is “OK” for Iran to play in the United States

Donald Trump said on Thursday that he was "OK" for Iran to play its 2026 football World Cup matches in the United States, after the head of Fifa reaffirmed that the country would participate despite the war in the Middle East.

"If Gianni (Infantino) said it, then I'm OK," the US president told reporters in the Oval Office of the White House.

"He talked about it. I told him, 'Do what you want. You can have them. You don't have to have them.' They probably have a good team... It's hard to believe, actually, but I think we should let them play," added Donald Trump.

For his part, FIFA President Gianni Infantino reaffirmed Thursday that Iran would participate in the 2026 World Cup and that it would play its three group matches in the United States as planned.

Flotilla for Gaza: “Israel is still violating international law”, scolds the Spanish Prime Minister

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on Thursday accused Israel of "(violating) again international law" after boarding around twenty boats from the "Gaza flotilla" off the coast of Greece, and arresting around 175 pro-Palestinian activists, including Spaniards.

“Israel is once again violating international law by attacking a civilian flotilla in waters that do not belong to it,” he wrote on the social network X.

Indicating that he is doing everything "to protect and assist the detained Spaniards", Pedro Sánchez continued by declaring "But this is not enough. The EU must suspend the association agreement NOW and demand that Netanyahu (the Israeli Prime Minister, editor's note) respect maritime law".

Iranian President Calls US Naval Blockade 'Prolongation of Military Operations'

Pete Hegseth defends a contested interpretation of the legal timetable governing US military intervention against Iran

The Trump administration is running up against the 60-day limit on war against Iran set by the War Powers Act of 1973. That law requires Congress to declare war or authorize the use of force, although it provides a 30-day extension allowing the president to end hostilities provided he notifies Congress.

The 60-day deadline for war with Iran will be reached on Friday. However, Pete Hegseth told senators: "We are currently in a ceasefire, which in our interpretation means that the 60-day time limit is suspended or interrupted during a ceasefire."

Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine responded, "I don't think the law supports that interpretation," and added that he had "serious constitutional concerns."

Before Congress, Pete Hegseth calls Democratic lawmakers 'low-level defeatists'

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth clashed with Democratic lawmakers in Congress for a second straight day Thursday, rejecting senators' accusations that the war against Iran was launched without evidence of an imminent threat and carried out without a coherent strategy.

In his opening remarks at a hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Pete Hegseth called Democratic lawmakers "reckless critics" and "low-level defeatists" who failed to recognize the many successes the U.S. military has achieved against the Islamic Republic.

Hegseth said President Donald Trump had the courage, "unlike other presidents, to ensure that Iran never gets a nuclear weapon and that its nuclear blackmail never succeeds. We have the best negotiator in the world pushing through a great deal."

Anti-Semitic attacks in London: Starmer accuses Iran of “wanting to harm British Jews”

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer accused Iran on Thursday of "wanting to harm British Jews", the day after a new anti-Semitic attack in London which left two people injured.

“We need stronger powers to deal with the malicious threat posed by states like Iran, because we know full well they want to harm British Jews,” the Labor leader said, referring to the upcoming passage of a bill to ban the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

A little-known group suspected of links to Iranian authorities, "Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiyya" (Hayi), has claimed responsibility for a series of attacks in recent weeks targeting the Jewish community in the United Kingdom, as well as in other European countries.

Israel may 'have to act again' against Iran, defense minister says

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Thursday that his country may "need to act again" against Iran, so that it does not "become a threat to Israel again."

Despite support for the "efforts" undertaken with the United States, "it is possible that we will soon have to act again to ensure the achievement of these objectives", he declared during a military ceremony.

German Chancellor Merz wants “a reliable transatlantic partnership”

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called Thursday for a "reliable transatlantic partnership", without directly responding to Donald Trump's threats to reduce American troops in Germany after an exchange of barbs between the two leaders over the war in Iran.

“In this troubled period we are following a clear line, this line remains based on NATO and a reliable transatlantic partnership. As you know, this transatlantic partnership is particularly close to our hearts, to all of us, and to me personally,” he said, during a trip to observe maneuvers of the German army in Munster (west).

Hormuz: UN chief alarmed by strangulation of global economy

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres expressed alarm Thursday at the strangulation of the world economy due to the paralysis of the Strait of Hormuz, vital in particular for the trade in oil and fertilizers.

“I am very concerned about the restriction of navigation rights and freedoms in the Strait of Hormuz area, which hinders the distribution of oil, gas, fertilizers and other critical raw materials (...) and strangles the global economy,” he declared to the press.

“As in any conflict, all of humanity pays the price, even if a few reap enormous profits. The suffering will be felt for a long time to come,” he warned, calling on “all parties” to let the ships pass.

Flotilla for Gaza: 15 French among the activists arrested by Israel (Foreign Affairs)

Fifteen French nationals were arrested by Israeli authorities during the interception of part of a new flotilla which wanted to break the blockade of Gaza, the spokesperson for the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Thursday.

“Our first priority is the security of our nationals and our fellow citizens,” declared Pascal Confavreux during a press conference, urging “all parties” to respect international law.

With AFP, Reuters and AP

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