Iran war updates: Israel moves deeper in Lebanon; Iran peace talks strained

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• Trump will hold an unscheduled cabinet meeting at the White House on Wednesday amid efforts to end the war on Iran.
• Earlier in the day, US Secretary of State Rubio said that “specific language” for a deal to end the war was being negotiated in Qatar and would “take a few days”.
• Partial internet connectivity is being restored across Iran after 88 days of a near-total blackout.
• Israeli forces issued forced displacement orders for several villages as they killed at least 31 people in southern Lebanon.
• Netanyahu said that Israel is “deepening our operation in Lebanon” and “fortifying” its so-called “security zone” in Lebanese territory.

The UN Security Council has issued a statement condemning “in the strongest terms” a drone attack on the Barakah nuclear power plant in the United Arab Emirates on May 17.

The 15 members of the council described the attack as a “flagrant violation of international law with grave risks for civilian lives, infrastructure, and the environment”.

They also “expressed deep concern” over the “dangerous escalation and demanded the immediate and permanent cessation of all attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure in the United Arab Emirates.”

Authorities in Abu Dhabi said a fire broke out after the drone hit a generator outside the plant’s inner perimeter in the Al Dhafra region, but fortunately did not affect radiological safety levels.

Following the attack, the UAE’s Foreign Ministry called on Iraq to prevent hostile acts originating from its territory.

Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency reports that the deputy secretary of Tehran’s Supreme National Security Council, Ali Bagheri Kani, called on Baghdad to take action to ensure that Iraqi territory and airspace are not used to threaten or attack Iran.

According to the report, Bagheri Kani said that the roots of such threats must be eliminated, adding that Iran remains ready to engage in active cooperation with Iraq to address the issue.

The remarks were made during a meeting with Iraqi National Security Adviser Qasim al-Araji on the sidelines of the 14th Moscow International Security Conference.

New videos show widespread destruction in Maarakeh following deadly Israeli strikes across southern Lebanon.

On Tuesday, the Israeli military issued forced displacement orders for more than a dozen towns and villages, expanding its ground operation beyond its new, so-called “Yellow Line”.

Watch below for scenes from the ground:

The Lebanese armed group Hezbollah claims responsibility for 32 separate operations on Tuesday, targeting Israeli troops operating within southern Lebanon.

The group stated that its fighters engaged in direct clashes and launched extensive rocket, artillery, and drone strikes to confront an Israeli military advance, particularly focusing around the town of Zawtar al-Sharqiya.

According to the claims, the attacks resulted in the destruction or targeting of multiple Merkava tanks, armoured vehicles, communication systems, and an Iron Dome platform, as well as the downing of two Israeli quadcopters.

Lebanon’s Civil Defence says an Israeli air strike has killed one of its rescue workers today in the town of Qaraoun while he was attempting to save a wounded motorcyclist.

The General Directorate of Civil Defence identified the deceased emergency responder as Kamel Youssef Zein.

According to the report, Zein was driving past the Qaraoun Dam with his family when an initial Israeli air strike hit a person on a motorcycle nearby. The statement noted that Zein immediately stopped his vehicle, left his family in the car, and rushed to the scene to administer first aid to the casualty.

As he was “performing his humanitarian duty, a second Israeli strike hit the exact same location, leaving him critically injured”, the report said, adding that he later succumbed to his wounds.

Democratic Senator Mark Warner has criticised Trump on X, arguing that the US president has failed to deliver on his foreign policy commitments.

Warner said that while Trump “keeps claiming the war is about to end”, the reality is, “America is still striking Iran.”

Trump is also “breaking every promise, starting new forever wars, and raising costs on everything”, he added.

Donald Trump keeps claiming the war is about to end… but the truth is, America is still striking Iran.

He’s breaking every promise, starting new forever wars, and raising costs on everything.

— Mark Warner (@MarkWarner) May 26, 2026

The state-run NNA is reporting more Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon.

Two air strikes hit Burj Rahal, and a powerful strike was reported in Kawthariyat al-Ruz, in the Tyre district.

The Israeli military also launched two air strikes on the town of Srifa, and one on Burj Rahal, in the Tyre district.

Three raids were reported in the town of as-Sawana and one in Qabrikha, in the Marjayoun district.

Lebanon’s National News Agency has said at least 10 people, including women and children, were killed in one strike on ⁠the town of Burj Shemali in southern Lebanon.

The state-run news agency said more people remained under the rubble, but rescue teams were forced to suspend operations as darkness approached.

While all eyes are on negotiating efforts to end the war between the US and Iran, settler attacks in the occupied West Bank, often backed by the Israeli army, have shown no sign of slowing down.

Here are the main takeaways from a report released this week by the UN agency for humanitarian affairs (OCHA):

• Between May 12 and 18, Israeli forces and settlers killed five Palestinians, including one child, while nearly 60 Palestinians, including six children, were injured across the West Bank, including in occupied East Jerusalem. More than half of the injuries occurred during settler attacks, the remainder mainly in Israeli search operations and other raids.
• In just one week, more than 50 attacks by settlers across the Palestinian territory resulted in casualties or property damage. They included arson attacks that damaged a mosque, homes, farmland and vehicles. OCHA documented an average of six attacks a day this year.
• Concerns about the threat of the forced displacement of hundreds of Palestinians in the eastern Jerusalem governorate intensified after the Israeli finance minister called for the rapid implementation of longstanding demolition orders in Khan al-Ahmar. Khan al-Ahmar is among 18 Bedouin and herding communities of about 4,000 people, directly affected by the E1 settlement plan between occupied East Jerusalem and the Ma’ale Adumim settlement.

It’s a very sad evening. People were preparing for the Eid al-Adha holiday when Israel carried out an attack on Gaza City that is perhaps the most intense in recent days.

The alleged killing of Mohammed Odeh, who was appointed commander of Hamas’s military wing in Gaza in May, has not been confirmed by the group. What we’re certain about is that a woman who was shopping with her family was killed and that at least 20 people were injured.

Bombs were dropped by fighter jets on the upper floors of a residential building in one of Gaza City’s busiest streets. This area has effectively turned into a commercial market after large parts of Gaza City’s marketplace were destroyed by the Israeli military.

Within minutes of this attack, a fighter jet fired a missile on a residential building about two miles (3.2 kilometres) from the first attack, causing mayhem.

It’s also important to understand that the western part of Gaza City has become congested because much of eastern Gaza City is part of what is known as the “yellow line”.

The timing is very significant. People were preparing to celebrate Eid tomorrow despite the genocide they’ve been through, but Israeli attacks are turning things upside down for many Palestinians.

The Lebanese armed group has said it targeted Israeli soldiers near Zawtar al-Sharqiyah with a rocket barrage. A Merkava tank was also targeted near the town with a drone, it said in a statement.

The announcement comes amid reports of fighting between Hezbollah and the Israeli military as it attempts to push deeper into southern Lebanon and expand its ground operation beyond the so-called “yellow line”.