Iran sends response to US peace proposal via Pakistan, says negotiations to focus on ending war

TEHRAN, May 10: Pakistan has received Iran’s response to the United States' proposal on the Iran war and the response has been sent to the US, a Pakistani government official involved in the talks told Reuters on Sunday.

The source did not provide further detail about the proposal.

Tehran's counter-proposal, according to Iranian state news agency ISNA, centres on two demands. One, an immediate and permanent end to hostilities. And two, restoration of maritime security in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian officials have been explicit that this phase of negotiations covers only the mechanics of ending the war. The nuclear questions, sanctions relief, and broader regional issues are deliberately deferred to a later stage.

Putin says he thinks Ukraine conflict 'coming to an end'

MOSCOW, May 10: Russian President Vladimir Putin has suggested Russia's conflict with Ukraine could be drawing to a close.

Speaking after Saturday's scaled-back Victory Day military parade in Moscow, he said: "I think that the matter is coming to an end" - referring to the "special military operation" in Ukraine - while condemning Western support for Kyiv.

The parade - marking the Soviet victory in World War Two - lacked the usual display of tanks and missiles, as authorities feared Ukraine might target Red Square.

A US-brokered ceasefire reduced the danger of attacks and the parade passed off without incident. However Ukraine and Russia later accused each other of violating the three-day truce.

Putin's comments came just hours after he used his annual Victory Day speech to justify the war.

In that speech he said Russia was fighting a "just" war and called Ukraine an "aggressive force" that was being "armed and supported by the whole bloc of Nato".

Later, when asked at a news conference about the West helping Ukraine, Putin said: "They (West) promised assistance and then began fuelling a confrontation with Russia that continues to this day. I think that the matter is coming to an end, but it is a serious matter."

Russian forces seized Crimea and parts of eastern Ukraine in 2014, then launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Putin said he would only meet Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky once a lasting peace deal was agreed to.

"A meeting in a third country is also possible, but only once final agreements have been reached on a peace treaty for a long‑term historical perspective, to take part in this event and sign (treaty), but it must be a final step," he continued.

Putin said he had heard that Zelensky was ready to hold a personal meeting but added "this is not the first time we have heard such statements".

Putin said he would be willing to negotiate new security arrangements for Europe, and that his preferred negotiating partner would be Germany's former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder.

The ex-chancellor is a longstanding friend of Putin, and controversial because of his work for Russian state-owned energy firms.

Last week European Council President António Costa said he believed there was "potential" for the EU to negotiate with Russia, and that Zelensky favoured such a move. Quoted by the Financial Times, Costa said he was consulting EU leaders on "what we need effectively to discuss with Russia when it comes to the right moment to do this".

As part of the US-led ceasefire deal over the weekend, Kyiv and Moscow agreed to a swap of 1,000 prisoners from each country. But Putin said on Saturday that Russia had not yet heard from Ukraine about any exchanges.

China admits supporting Pakistan during four-day war with India in 2025

BEINJING, May 8: Beijing sent technical support teams to Pakistan during its war with India last year, China’s official media said.

Zhang Heng, an engineer from state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC)’s Chengdu Aircraft Design and Research Institute, revealed that Chinese personnel were deployed on-site during the four-day war following Operation Sindoor.

Pakistan’s air force operated a Chinese-made Chengdu J-10CE fighter jet, developed by AVIC subsidiaries, according to reports cited by the South China Morning Post.

“It felt inevitable. The aircraft just needed the right opportunity. And when that moment came, it delivered exactly as we knew it would,” Zhang said.

“At the support base, we frequently heard the roar of fighter jets taking off and the constant wail of air-raid sirens,” Zhang said. “By late morning, in May, the temperature was already approaching 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit). It was a real ordeal for us, both mentally and physically.”

What drove his team was the “desire to do an even better job with on site support” and to ensure their equipment could “truly perform at its full combat potential”, Zhang told CCTV.

Another engineer, Xu Da from the same institute, compared the fighter aircraft to a “child”. “We nurtured it, cared for it, and finally handed it over to the user. And now, it was facing a major test,” Xu said.

Reports earlier claimed that a Chinese-origin fighter jet operated by Pakistan downed at least one French-made Indian aircraft, the Dassault Rafale. The J-10CE is the export variant of China’s J-10C 4.5-generation fighter, equipped with an AESA radar and advanced air-to-air missile systems.

Pakistan is the only known foreign operator, having ordered 36 aircraft along with 250 PL-15 missiles in 2020.

Israel kills Hezbollah commander in Beirut strike

JERUSALEM/BEIRUT, May 7: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday there ​was no "immunity" for Israel's enemies, a day after the Israeli military targeted a Hezbollah commander in its first strike on Beirut's southern suburbs since a ‌ceasefire declared last month.

Israel said the attack killed the commander of the Iran-backed group’s elite Radwan force.

Hezbollah, which controls Beirut's southern suburbs, has yet to issue any statement on the strike or the commander's status.

"He likely read in the press that he had immunity in Beirut. Well, he read it and it is no longer the case," Netanyahu said in a statement.

Hostilities between Israel and ​Hezbollah reignited on March 2 when the group opened fire at Israel after Tehran came under U.S.-Israeli attack.

Wednesday's strike raises pressure on the Lebanon ceasefire ​that emerged in parallel to a truce in the wider Middle East war, with a halt to Israeli strikes in Lebanon being a ⁠key Iranian demand in Tehran's negotiations with Washington.

Announced on April 16 by U.S. President Donald Trump, the Lebanon ceasefire has led to a reduction in hostilities: the ​Beirut area was not struck by Israel for weeks before Wednesday's attack.

But the sides have continued to trade blows in the south, where Israel has carved out a self-declared ​security zone.

Netanyahu said the Hezbollah commander, identified as Ahmed Ali Balout by the Israeli military, "thought he could continue to direct attacks against our forces and our communities from his secret terrorist headquarters in Beirut".

"I say to our enemies in the clearest possible way: No terrorist has immunity," he said.

While Israel and Hezbollah wage war, the United States has hosted two rounds of talks between the ​Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors to Washington, the highest-level contacts between Lebanese and Israeli government representatives in decades.

A U.S. State Department official said representatives of Israel and Lebanon would hold ​a third round of talks in Washington on May 14 and 15.

The Lebanon ceasefire was announced for an initial 10 days and then extended for an additional three weeks during the second ‌meeting between ⁠the Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors to Washington, hosted by Trump at the Oval Office.

Hezbollah strongly objects to the Lebanese government's contacts with Israel, which reflect deep differences between the group and its critics in Lebanon.

India Condemns Iran Attack On UAE Largest Oil Port; Injures 3 Indians

NEW DELHI, May 5: India has condemned Iran's attack on the Fujairah Petroleum Industries Zone in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) that left three Indian nationals injured, amid escalating US-Iran tensions.

In a statement, the Foreign Affairs Ministry termed the attack "unacceptable". The remarks came after the UAE, a key American ally, said it had come under attack from Iran for the first time since a fragile ceasefire took hold in early April.

"The attack on Fujairah that resulted in injury to three Indian nationals is unacceptable. We call for immediate cessation of these hostilities and the targeting of civilian infrastructure and innocent civilians," Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a post on X.

The ministry said that New Delhi continues to stand for dialogue and diplomacy to deal with the situation so that peace and stability may be restored across the Middle East.

"We also call for free and unimpeded navigation and commerce through the Strait of Hormuz in keeping with international law. India stands ready to support all efforts for a peaceful resolution of issues," the post added.

The Emirati Defence Ministry said its air defences had engaged 15 missiles and four drones fired by Iran. Authorities in the eastern emirate of Fujairah said one drone sparked a fire at its largest oil facility, wounding three Indian nationals working there.

The British military reported two cargo vessels ablaze off the Emirates.

Tehran did not outright confirm or deny the attacks, but early on Tuesday, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on X that both the US and the UAE “should be wary of being dragged back into a quagmire."

In similarly vague terms, Iranian state television earlier quoted an anonymous military official as saying Tehran had had “no plan” to target the UAE or one of its oil fields.

"The incident resulted from U.S. military adventurism to create an illegal passage,” the official said about the oil facility attack, apparently referring to US President Donald Trump's latest efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for global energy.

UAE comes under attack from Iranian missiles and drones despite ceasefire

DUBAI, May 4: The United Arab Emirates said Monday that Iran launched missile and drone attacks against the country, putting at risk the already shaky ceasefire between the United States and Tehran.

The White House did not immediately respond when asked whether the reported attacks, which led the UAE to activate its missile alert system for the first time since the ceasefire began on April 8, would violate that truce.

Stock market indices fell, and oil prices rose on news of the attack, raising investors’ fears that the war’s impact on the global economy could be exacerbated or prolonged.

“The UAE’s air defenses are currently dealing with missile attacks and incoming drones from Iran,” Abu Dhabi’s Defence Ministry said in a translated post on its official X account.

The ministry said that “the sounds heard in various parts of the country are the result of the UAE air defense systems intercepting ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones.”

In an earlier post, the ministry said that three “loitering munitions” were “intercepted over the country’s territorial waters,” while a fourth missile “fell into the sea.”

The UAE is located on the southern rim of the Persian Gulf, a major chokepoint for the shipment of oil.

Iran’s state media did not immediately confirm the attacks.

An alert issued to phones in Dubai and Abu Dhabi on Monday evening local time warned people, “Due to the current situation, potential missile threats, immediately seek a safe place in the closest secure building.”

Netherlands Becomes 1st European Nation to Join U.S. CCA Program

WASHINGTON, May 3: The Netherlands quietly became the first European country to formally join the American CCA (Collaborative Combat Aircraft) program and to fund the purchase of two of the first CCA, even as the European continent stares at a fractured relationship with the US.

The US Air Combat Command announced a landmark agreement with the Netherlands last month. “The Department of the Air Force and the Netherlands Ministry of Defense have formalized a partnership to acquire prototype Collaborative Combat Aircraft, advancing a shared strategy to bring greater affordable mass to deter, and if necessary, defeat adversaries,” it said in a press statement.

The statement noted that the partnership will focus on jointly developing autonomous, open-architecture, platform-agnostic technologies that facilitate seamless data exchange and interoperability across joint operations. Additionally, it emphasized that the Department of the Air Force (DAF) is fast-tracking cooperation with international partners in multiple areas of CCA capabilities development.

“The future fight will be fought [in collaboration] with allies and partners,” Air Force Secretary Troy Meink was quoted as saying. “By aligning our approaches early, we ensure interoperability and shared advantage in the era of human-machine teaming.”

Notably, the formalization of the partnership comes months after the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) signed a letter of intent (LoI) to join the CCA program in October 2025. “By signing the letter of intent, the Netherlands is demonstrating its desire to make progress with innovation and cooperation in the field of unmanned systems,” the Dutch Defense Ministry had said at the time.

The USAF’s CCA program, launched by former USAF Secretary Frank Kendall in 2023, envisions deploying a significant number of modular, reasonably priced, and operationally useful unmanned aircraft that can fly alongside manned aircraft. These drones, known as “loyal wingmen,” are designed to enhance air superiority in contested environments by serving as potent force multipliers.

The CCA program is part of the larger “affordable mass” concept, which emphasizes the procurement of cheap platforms, such as drones, to overwhelm the enemy in combat. For instance, the CCA drones the USAF is developing are estimated to cost between US$25 million and US$35 million each, which is one-third the cost of an F-35 Lightning II aircraft, which ranges from US$80 million to US$115 million, depending on the variant.
The concept is that using inexpensive, attritable drones to accompany costly, manned aircraft will improve both the survivability of the manned platform and mission success, particularly when facing a near-peer foe in a contested environment.

Previous reports indicate that during its initial deployment, these CCAs will primarily operate as airborne “missile trucks,” flying in formation with crewed jets to deliver additional firepower. However, discussions are underway to expand their mission profile to include intelligence gathering, electronic warfare, surveillance, reconnaissance, and, in the future, fully autonomous missions.

Iran says US has responded to Tehran's 14-point plan through Pakistan

TEHRAN, May 3: Iran said on Sunday that the United States had responded to its 14-point proposal through Pakistan and that it is reviewing the response, according to state media.

A foreign ministry spokesperson added that there are no nuclear negotiations underway at this stage.

Iran has put forward a proposal to resolve its disputes with the United States within 30 days, aiming for a complete end to the war instead of an extension of the ceasefire, according to state-linked media.

Israel approves multi-billion deal for new F-35, F-15IA fighter jets

TEL AVIV, May 3: Israel has approved a plan to acquire two new combat squadrons of F-35 Lightning II and F-15IA aircraft from Lockheed Martin and Boeing in a deal worth tens of billions of dollars, the defence ministry said on Sunday, with deliveries expected to run from 2026 into the early to mid-2030s.

The defence ministry said on Sunday that the deal, worth tens of billions of dollars, involves aircraft from Lockheed Martin and Boeing, and was approved by Israel’s Ministerial Committee on Procurement as part of a wider 350 billion shekel ($119 billion) plan to bolster military capabilities and “strengthen readiness ahead of a demanding decade for Israeli security.”

Under the agreement, Israel will purchase a fourth F-35 squadron and a second F-15IA squadron, with the new aircraft expected to serve as a cornerstone of long-term force development aimed at countering regional threats and maintaining strategic air superiority.

“Alongside immediate wartime procurement needs, we have a responsibility to act now to secure the IDF’s military edge ten years from now and beyond,” said ministry director general Amir Baram, referring to the Israel Defense Forces.

He added that the recent war with Iran “reinforced just how critical the US-Israel strategic relationship is, and how essential advanced air power remains.”

Defence Minister Israel Katz said the Iran conflict demonstrated the air force’s decisive role in national security. “The lessons of that campaign require us to keep pressing forward on force buildup, to ensure air superiority for decades to come,” he said.

He added that the new aircraft would mark a technological leap, enabling integration of autonomous flight capabilities, next-generation defence systems and expanded operational reach.

The long-term plan envisages a future fleet of roughly 100 F-35s, more than 100 upgraded F-16s and at least 50 F-15IA fighters, with some older F-15s potentially remaining in service if deemed operational.

Israel currently operates around 50 F-35s, with deliveries ongoing. In mid-January, three F-35I aircraft arrived at Nevatim Air Force Base, bringing the fleet to 48 of the 50 jets already purchased.

These aircraft were part of a long-term programme to expand the fleet from 25 to 50, though they were delayed from an original late-2025 schedule, with the final two still expected in 2026.

Further expansion is already underway. In 2023, Israel, the US government and Lockheed Martin signed a deal for 25 additional F-35s, raising the total to 75 and forming a third squadron, with deliveries expected to begin in 2027 following additional steps taken in mid-2024.

By early 2025, the F-35 fleet had logged over 15,000 operational flight hours across multiple fronts, from Iran to Yemen, Syria, Lebanon and Gaza.

On the F-15 side, the $8.6 billion Boeing contract signed in December includes 25 F-15IA jets with an option for 25 more, meaning Israel could eventually field 50 of the aircraft. Deliveries could extend into the early or mid-2030s as the air force replaces its aging fleet.

The expansion comes as Israel continues to rely on a mix of older and newer aircraft. According to public data, it operates around 70 aging F-15s - many dating back to the 1970s - and more than 100 F-16 Fighting Falcon jets. Rather than replacing the F-16s, the defence ministry said in January it would upgrade them with an NIS 80 million package to enhance self-protection systems.

Iran military official says war with US ‘likely’ to restart as Trump 'not satisfied' with Tehran's proposal

TEHRAN, May 2: A senior Iranian military official warned that renewed fighting with the US was “likely” after US President Donald Trump rejected Tehran's proposal.

The draft proposal was delivered to the US via mediator Pakistan on Thursday evening, the state media reported, without elaborating on its contests. Mohammad Jafar Asadi, a senior figure in Iran military's central command, said a “renewed conflict between Iran and the United States is likely”, according to Fars news agency.

Trump earlier said he was “not satisfied” with Iran's proposal. “At this moment I'm not satisfied with what they're offering,” the US President had said. The conflict, which began after the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran on February 28, has been on hold since April 8 after a temporary ceasefire was announced.

Asadi posed uncertainty on the fragile truce, saying, “Evidence has shown that the United States is not committed to any promises or agreements.”

Israeli air strikes on Lebanon kill 41 people in 24-hours

TEL AVIV, May 2: Israel has launched multiple strikes across southern Lebanon, killing at least 10 people in further violations of the “ceasefire” declared two weeks ago.

Lebanon’s Ministry of Health said the latest wave of attacks on Saturday increased the total recorded over the previous 24 hours to 41. The overall death toll since March 2 is 2,659, with 8,183 injured.

Quoting the health ministry, Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) said three people were killed in an Israeli attack on the town of Shoukine in Nabatieh district.

An earlier attack on a car in the village of Kfar Dajjal killed two people. Three others were killed when a home was hit in the village of Lwaizeh. A strike on the village of Shoukin killed two people, NNA reported.

Israeli forces carried out an air strike near al-Quds roundabout in the city of Nabatieh, and warplanes attacked the town of Siddiqine in Tyre district.

Israel Sent UAE Laser Weapon Called 'Iron Beam' That Can Vapourise Iranian Drones

TEL AVIV, May 1: Israel had not just sent its iconic Iron Dome air defence system to the United Arab Emirates when Iran was attacking the Gulf country. According to a report by the Financial Times, Israel also sent an advanced laser to the UAE for it to defend itself from Iranian missiles and drones.

The deployment of the advanced laser would be one of the first examples of major defence co-operation between Israel and the UAE. The two countries did not have diplomatic relations until US President Donald Trump brokered the 2020 Abraham Accords.

A regional official told the publication that the laser system was a display of "the value of being Israel's friend".

Israel also sent over an advanced surveillance system known as 'Spectro' to the UAE for it to defend itself against incoming drones from as far as 20 kilometres away, especially the Shaheds.

The report stated that the offensive and defensive systems sent to the UAE were mostly prototypes and had not even been fully integrated into Israel's weapon systems.

Tel Aviv sent a version of its Iron Beam laser defence system to the UAE, which vaporises short-range rockets and drones. It was first used by Israel against Hezbollah projectiles from Lebanon.

Apart from the Iron Dome air defence system, "several dozen" Israeli military personnel have been sent to the UAE. "It's not a small number of boots on the ground," said the source.

Iran had launched more than 500 ballistic missiles and 2,000 drones at the UAE. Along with the weapons systems, Israel had also shared intelligence with the Gulf state, informing it about short-range missile launch preparations in Iran.

Aung San Suu Kyi Moved From Prison To House Arrest In Myanmar

Naypyitaw, May 1: Former Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been moved from prison to house arrest and her sentence has been reduced as part of a prisoner amnesty for a Buddhist holiday.

Accompanying the announcement was a photo of the 80-year-old leader dressed in a traditional white blouse and skirt and sitting on a wooden bench behind a low table facing two unidentified men, one in a police uniform and the other in military uniform. Myanmar's military information office and state television disclosed the move and shared the photo of her Thursday night, but when and where the photo was taken was not clear.

Suu Kyi was detained Feb. 1, 2021, when the army seized power from her elected government. She has not been seen publicly since then, and the last official photo of her was from a court appearance on May 24, 2021.

Earlier Thursday, authorities had announced Suu Kyi's sentence was being reduced as part of a prisoner amnesty marking a Buddhist holiday, the Full Moon Day of Kason honoring Buddha's birthday. The amnesty covered 1,519 prisoners and cut the sentences for those still in prison by one-sixth.