Day 75 | Trump claims Iran war ‘won’t last long’

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The United Arab Emirates denied Wednesday that ‘Israeli’ Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the country, after the latter’s office said the premier made a “secret” visit to meet the Gulf country’s President during the Iran war.

“The United Arab Emirates denies what is being circulated regarding a visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the country, or the reception of any Israeli military delegation on its territory,” a statement by the UAE’s Foreign Ministry said.

“The State confirms that its relations with Israel are public relations, established within the framework of the well-known and announced Abraham Accords, and are not based on secrecy or hidden arrangements,” it added.

Earlier today, Netanyahu’s office said he held a "secret" meeting with the president of the United Arab Emirates during the war with Iran.

"During Operation 'Lion's Roar', Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu paid a secret visit to the United Arab Emirates, where he met with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan," his office claimed in a statement.

Netanyahu's office claimed the visit "marked a historic breakthrough in relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates".

Iran targeted the UAE more than any other country during the war, which was sparked by US-‘Israeli’ strikes on the Islamic republic at the end of February.

Despite a ceasefire that came into effect last month, the UAE has since reported multiple missile and drone attacks from Iran.

The oil-rich United Arab Emirates is a top US ally in the region and among the Arab nations with official ties to ‘Israel’ after signing the Abraham Accords during US President Donald Trump's first term in 2020.

The United States Senate on Wednesday narrowly rejected a resolution seeking to order the withdrawal of forces involved in the war with Iran, as the Republican majority opposed limiting President Donald Trump’s military powers.

The measure, like other resolutions introduced by the Democratic opposition in recent weeks, received 49 votes in favor, including support from three Republican senators, and 50 votes against.

For the first time since the start of the war, Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski voted in favor of calling for the withdrawal of US forces from the conflict with Iran.

Murkowski told Punchbowl News after the vote: “We believed we would receive more clarity from the government regarding our position in the conflict, and I did not receive any clarification.”

The United States Constitution grants US Congress sole authority to declare war, prompting Democrats to seek to reassert the legislative branch’s powers on the issue in the face of executive authority represented by Trump.

While US law allows the president to initiate hostilities in response to an imminent threat, it requires congressional authorization within 60 days.

However, in early May, Trump dismissed that deadline, arguing that the conflict had effectively ended due to the ongoing ceasefire with Iran.

Democrats have challenged that justification, pointing to the continued deployment of US forces to enforce a blockade on Iranian ports.

Several Republican lawmakers had previously said they would demand that the administration seek congressional authorization after the 60-day period expired.

Still, despite support from three Republican senators, the resolution failed to secure enough votes for passage.

‘Israeli’ Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a "secret" meeting with the president of the United Arab Emirates during the war with Iran, his office said Wednesday.

"During Operation 'Lion's Roar', Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu paid a secret visit to the United Arab Emirates, where he met with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan," his office said in a statement.

Wednesday's announcement comes a day after US ambassador to ‘Israel’ Mike Huckabee announced that ‘Israel’ had sent its Iron Dome air defence systems and personnel to operate them to the UAE during the war with Iran.

While stopping short of confirming Huckabee's comments, Netanyahu's office said the visit "marked a historic breakthrough in relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates".

Iran targeted the UAE more than any other country during the war, which was sparked by US-‘Israeli’ strikes on the Islamic republic at the end of February.

Despite a ceasefire that came into effect last month, the UAE has since reported multiple missile and drone attacks from Iran.

The oil-rich United Arab Emirates is a top US ally in the region and among the Arab nations with official ties to ‘Israel’ after signing the Abraham Accords during US President Donald Trump's first term in 2020.

Iran's foreign minister said Wednesday that Tehran had the right to respond after he accused Kuwait of attacking an Iranian boat and arresting four of its citizens in the Gulf, calling for their release.

"In a clear attempt to sow discord, Kuwait has unlawfully attacked an Iranian boat and detained 4 of our citizens in the Persian Gulf. This illegal act took place near an island used by the U.S. to attack Iran. We demand the immediate release of our nationals and reserve the right to respond," Abbas Araghchi wrote on X.

Kuwait's interior ministry said in a statement published by state news agency KUNA on Tuesday that four people arrested earlier this month as they attempted to enter the country by sea confessed to belonging to Iran's Revolutionary Guards. Iran has denied the allegations.

In clear attempt to sow discord, Kuwait has unlawfully attacked an Iranian boat and detained 4 of our citizens in the Persian Gulf. This illegal act took place near island used by the U.S. to attack Iran.

We demand immediate release of our nationals and reserve right to respond.

— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) May 13, 2026

The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) said Wednesday that American naval forces have now completed four weeks of enforcing a blockade against ships entering and exiting Iran’s ports.

According to the statement, as of today, US forces have redirected 67 commercial vessels, allowed 15 humanitarian aid ships to pass, and disabled 4 vessels to ensure compliance with the operation.

The blockade, which began on April 13, targets maritime traffic in the Gulf of Oman and Strait of Hormuz.

The blockade aims to restrict Iran’s oil export revenue amid ongoing regional tensions.

CENTCOM forces used radio communications and small-arms warning shots to compel two commercial vessels to turn around and comply with the blockade, the statement added.

An ‘Israeli’ strike hits the southern Lebanese village of Al-Halloussiyah, as the ‘Israeli’ military said it launched a new wave of strikes across southern Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah infrastructure, despite a truce with the Lebanese government to halt fighting with the armed group.

The United States President Donald Trump arrived in the Chinese capital Beijing late Wednesday evening, marking the start of a historic three-day visit, as the first visit by a US leader to the Chinese capital in nearly a decade.

• For the second time in a single day, 'Israeli' military ordered residents of multiple southern Lebanese towns to flee immediately.
• The latest orders include Kafr Hata, Arab Salim, and Deir Al-Zahrani.
• The earlier morning sweep included: Meis el-Jabal, Yanuh, Burj al-Shamali, Hula al-Fawqa, Dabbal, Abassiyeh.
   

The humanitarian crisis in southern Lebanon accelerated on Wednesday, as the 'Israeli' military issued its second major evacuation directive in less than 6 hours.

The new "urgent warning," posted by 'Israeli' military Arabic-language spokesperson Avichay Adraee, expanded the list of targeted areas to include the strategic towns of Kafr Hata, Arab Salim, and Deir Al-Zahrani.

These orders follow a similar morning directive that targeted Meis el-Jabal, Yanuh, Burj al-Shamali, Hula al-Fawqa, Dabbal, and Abassiyeh.

By mid-afternoon, thousands of civilians across nearly a dozen municipalities had been told to abandon their homes and move at least 1,000 meters into open areas to avoid imminent airstrikes.

• Lebanese Ministry of Health announced that eight people were killed, including two children, in three separate 'Israeli' strikes south of Lebanon.
• Raids took place along Saida, specifically in the towns of Barja, Jiyeh, and Saadiyat.

The Public Health Ministry’s Emergency Operations Center released a statement on Wednesday, detailing a series of lethal 'Israeli' air raids targeting the strategic coastal highway.

According to the ministry, Israel launched three distinct strikes on the Barja, Jiyeh, and Saadiyat sections of the Sidon-Beirut motorway.

The attacks resulted in the death of eight, with the ministry specifically noting the loss of two children among the victims.

The 'Israeli' military announced on Wednesday that it has begun a series of intensive airstrikes targeting multiple locations across southern Lebanon.

• 'Israeli' military intelligence is urgently analyzing the "lethal threat" of Hezbollah’s new drone swarms.
• 'Israeli' military is deploying AI-driven "smart sights" and kinetic interceptors to counter fiber-optic drones.
• Thousands of crates of specialized fragmentation ammunition and anti-drone rifles are set to arrive from the US in the coming weeks.

A primary focus of 'Israeli' intelligence is the emergence of fiber-optic guided FPV (First-Person View) drones.

Adapted from tactics seen in the Ukraine conflict, these drones are connected to their operators by a physical tether as thin as dental floss.

Jamming immunity: Because they do not rely on radio frequencies or GPS, these drones are completely immune to 'Israel’s' spectral jamming and "Iron Dome" electronic warfare suites.

Lethal precision: This allows Hezbollah operators to navigate drones into armored vehicle hatches or infantry bunkers with surgical accuracy, even under heavy electronic suppression.

Reinforcing the northern border

To mitigate these losses, the 'Israeli' military is implementing a multi-layered defense strategy:

Operational discipline: New protocols have been issued to limit troop gatherings and increase the use of camouflage and physical barriers, such as specialized "drone nets."

Technological upgrades: Units are being equipped with Smart Shooter computerized sights that lock onto fast-moving aerial targets, allowing standard assault rifles to act as precision anti-drone weapons.

Urgent procurement: Thousands of crates of dedicated anti-drone fragmentation rounds are scheduled to reach frontline units within weeks. These rounds are designed to create a "cloud of lead" to down small quadcopters before they reach their targets.

Intelligence and supply chains

Beyond immediate tactical fixes, 'Israeli' intelligence is reportedly working to "unmask" the supply chain providing these components to Hezbollah.

Leaked reports suggest that while the drones are inexpensive -costing as little as $400- the volume and coordination seen in Tuesday's attack point to significant Iranian-backed logistical support aimed at eroding the sense of security for both soldiers and civilians in northern 'Israel'.

• 'Israeli' security sources describe Tuesday’s operation as the most sophisticated and coordinated drone strike since the April ceasefire.
• Two Israeli soldiers were injured in the first wave of attacks, which targeted military positions in the Upper Galilee.
• Hezbollah launched a second wave of drones targeting the same locations just an hour after the initial strike.

'Israeli' security officials cited by The Jerusalem Post on Wednesday, confirmed that Hezbollah launched what is being described as its "strongest and most coordinated" drone offensive to date.

The assault, which occurred on Tuesday, involved multiple swarms of explosive-laden drones entering 'Israeli' airspace simultaneously from several points along the Lebanese border.

Security sources noted that this "unprecedented" level of coordination suggests a significant shift in Hezbollah’s aerial tactics, aimed at overwhelming Israeli radar and interception systems.

Soldiers injured

The first wave of the attack targeted an 'Israeli' military outpost near the border, resulting in the injury of two soldiers.

While the 'Israeli' military have not released details on the soldiers' conditions, military sources confirmed they were evacuated for medical treatment.

Approximately one hour after the initial explosion, Hezbollah launched a follow-up wave of drones directed at the exact same coordinates.

This "double-tap" strategy reportedly injured emergency response teams and caused a large-scale fire at the target site, which firefighters struggled to contain through Tuesday evening.

'Israeli' military response

The coordinated nature of the attack marks a further collapse of the fragile truce brokered in mid-April.

'Israeli' security sources emphasized that the use of "synchronized swarms" is a new development in the current conflict, designed to exploit gaps in the "Iron Dome" and other short-range air defense systems.

The 'Israeli' military responded to the infiltration by targeting the launch sites in southern Lebanon, with the 'Israeli Air Force' carrying out retaliatory strikes in the areas of Kounin and Aitaroun.

The military stated that it views this escalation as a "grave violation" of the standing understandings and warned of a "forceful" expansion of operations if the drone incursions continue.

Growing aerial threat

The increasing sophistication of Hezbollah's drone fleet -including the reported use of fiber-optic technology to bypass electronic jamming- has become a primary concern for the 'Israeli' security establishment.

Tuesday's coordinated strike is seen by analysts as a "stress test" of 'Israeli' defenses, occurring just as the US began delivering new fragmentation rounds specifically designed to counter small-scale aerial threats in the northern theater.

'Israeli' drone targeted a civilian vehicle on the coastal highway near the town of Jiyeh, approximately 30 kilometers south of the Lebanese capital, early Wednesday morning.

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• Annual inflation hit 3.8% in April.
• This marks the highest consumer price acceleration since May 2023.
• Surging oil prices linked to the conflict in Iran accounted for 40% of the total Consumer Price Index (CPI) increase.
• Financial markets and major banks now predict that the Federal Reserve may not lower interest rates until late 2027.

The US economy faced a sharp inflationary surge in April as the Consumer Price Index (CPI) climbed to an annual rate of 3.8%.

According to Labor Department data released Wednesday, the jump exceeded the 3.7% forecast by economists and represents a significant spike from the 3.3% recorded in March.

The primary catalyst for the surge is the ongoing war with Iran, which has severely constrained global oil supplies since hostilities erupted in March.

Energy prices accounted for nearly half of the monthly increase, with gasoline prices skyrocketing 28.4% compared to a year earlier.

This energy shock has pushed gasoline to its highest price levels since July 2022.

"Squeeze" on wages

While fuel is the most visible driver, "Core CPI" -which strips out volatile food and energy costs- rose 2.8% year-over-year.

This indicates that high transportation and manufacturing costs are beginning to "pass through" to other sectors:

Airfares: Airline tickets saw a staggering 20.7% annual jump as carriers pass higher jet fuel costs to travelers.

Groceries and goods: Experts warn that diesel-reliant industries like agriculture and construction will soon see price hikes as delivery costs mount.

"Inflation is the key drag on the US economy now," said Heather Long, chief economist at Navy Federal Credit Union.

She noted that for the first time in three years, inflation is completely offsetting wage gains, adding approximately $75 in monthly expenses to the average household.

Trump proposes federal gas tax

In a recent interview with CBS News, US President Donald Trump announced plans to suspend the federal gasoline tax -18.4 cents per gallon for regular and 24.4 cents for diesel- "for a period of time" to provide immediate relief.

However, Trump rejected the idea of a government bailout for US air carriers, many of which have hiked prices ahead of the summer travel season.

Critics and economists remain skeptical of the tax holiday's impact, suggesting it may offer only marginal relief while global supply remains choked by the maritime blockade in the Persian Gulf.

Fed's "Higher for longer" reality

The hot inflation report has effectively dashed hopes for an interest rate cut in the near future. With the labor market cooling and prices heating up, Northlight Asset Management analysts described a rate cut as "very unlikely."

Current market sentiment, tracked by the CME Group's FedWatch tool, shows less than a 50% chance of a rate reduction before March 2027.

Some major institutions, including Bank of America, have pushed their forecasts even further, suggesting the Federal Reserve may remain on hold until the second half of 2027.

The 'Israeli' military said that it intercepted a “suspicious aerial target” identified in an area where 'Israeli' soldiers are currently operating in southern Lebanon.

No sirens were sounded in accordance with protocol, the statement added.

Crude oil prices dipped on Wednesday, snapping a three-day rise as the markets watched for news on the shaky ceasefire in the US-'Israel' war on Iran.

By 00:51 GMT, Brent crude futures had dropped 82 cents (0.76 percent) to $106.95 per barrel. Meanwhile, US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fell 66 cents (0.65 percent) to reach $101.52.

Investors are now focused on Trump’s trip to China for talks with Xi Jinping, and what those discussions will mean for the war on Iran and the wider global economy.

Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles has spoken to counterparts from more than 40 countries, reaffirming collective diplomatic, economic and military support for freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

Marles said Australia will support the “independent and strictly defensive” multinational military mission to ensure free navigation in the strait, which will be led by the UK and France.

Australia will contribute their E-7A Wedgetail surveillance aircraft to the mission, Marles said.

“We want to see this conflict end, the Strait of Hormuz open and freedom of navigation resume. The longer this conflict goes on the more significant the impact on Australia will be,” he said in a statement.

US President Trump stated that trade, not Iran, will be the main topic of his meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, the Associated Press (AP) news agency reports.

Although Trump said he expects a “long talk” about Iran with Xi, he added that it wouldn’t be a primary point of discussion.

“I wouldn’t say Iran is one of them, to be honest with you, because we have Iran very much under control,” Trump said.

Trump described President Xi as “a friend” and someone he gets along with, adding, “I think you’re going to see that good things are going to happen.”

However, the president also issued a harsh warning regarding Iran’s nuclear programme before his departure. He told reporters, “We’re either going to make a deal or they’re going to be decimated. One way or the other, we win.”

Regarding the current ceasefire, Trump noted he would be considering its future during his flight to Beijing and “for the next little while”, concluding, “We’re going to see what happens.”

South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back tells his US counterpart that Seoul is reviewing phased contributions to the US-led initiative in the Strait of Hormuz, reports the Yonhap news agency.

South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back and US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth held their bilateral talks at the Pentagon earlier this week.