Day 81 | Trump says attack on Iran put on hold after Gulf states’ intervention

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Read more: Day 82 | Trump says attack on Iran possible in ‘two or three days’ if no deal is reached

An ‘Israeli’ strike on south Lebanon Tuesday killed at least 10 people including three women and three children, the health ministry said, despite a ceasefire in the ‘Israel’-Hezbollah war.

"An Israeli airstrike on the town of Deir Qanun al-Nahr in the Tyre district resulted in an initial toll of 10 martyrs, including three children and three women, in addition to three wounded, including a child", the ministry said in a statement, calling it a "massacre".

Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, said Tuesday that Iran rose to the level of great and influential power, following the war with ‘Israel’ and the US.

The term “Sacred Defense” is a term historically used by Iran to describe its defense during the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War.

However, following the major US-‘Israeli’ military escalations and airstrikes against Iran, the Iranian government and state media have framed the country's recent military response as the "Third Sacred Defense."

إن من بين الإنجازات القيمة للدفاع المقدس [في مواجهة عدوان أمريكا والكيان الصهيوني] صعود إيران إلى مستوى قوة كبرى ومؤثرة.

— آية الله السيد مجتبى الحسيني الخامنئي (@MKhamenei_ar) May 19, 2026

The United Arab Emirates said on Tuesday that the drones that targeted its nuclear plant last week came from Iraq -- from where Iranian-backed groups have launched several attacks since the Middle East war began.

"As part of the ongoing investigation into the blatant attack on the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant on May 17, 2026, technical tracking and monitoring confirmed that the three drones... all originated from Iraqi territory," the Emirati defence ministry said.

The UAE Ministry of Defence said Tuesday that its forces intercepted six drones in the past 48 hours. 

The drones caused no casualties or damage, which targeted key facilities and civilian areas, according to the statement. 

All drones originated from Iraqi territory, including the ones that targeted the Barakah nuclear power plant on May 17, the MoD added in its statement.

Iran’s army warns it will “open new fronts” against the United States if it resumes attacks, after US President Donald Trump said he had held off launching a new offensive in hopes of striking a deal.

“If the enemy is foolish enough to fall into the Zionist trap again and launches new aggression against our beloved Iran, we will open new fronts against it, with new equipment and new methods,” says army spokesman Mohammad Akraminia, according to Iran’s ISNA news agency.

Loud explosions were heard across Haifa and Nahariya this morning due to interceptor missiles launched against suspicious aerial targets over the Galilee, occurring without the activation of warning sirens, according to 'Israeli' media.

Iran could shift to more aggressive military tactics if hostilities resume, according to an analysis published by The New York Times.

The report says Iranian officials are believed to be assessing alternative battlefield strategies in preparation for any renewed confrontation.

Among the possible scenarios outlined in the analysis is an attempt by Iran to extend its control over the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints.

Such a move could significantly disrupt global shipping routes and raise tensions across the wider region.

The broadcaster said ‘Israeli’ military assessments indicate that, in addition to casualties among troops, explosive drones have become one of the most serious operational threats confronting forces in southern Lebanon.

It added that many military missions are no longer being carried out during daylight hours due to fears of drone attacks.

The report noted that the growing use of drones has emerged as a major concern for the military leadership, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu previously describing the threat as a central challenge.

According to the broadcaster, the military is facing shortages in the equipment needed to counter the expanding drone threat.

It said anti-drone systems are being distributed to only a limited number of soldiers in each company due to insufficient supplies, raising concerns over the army’s ability to respond effectively.

Citing sources in 'Israeli' Military Intelligence Directorate, the report said Hezbollah has moved away from a highly organized command structure toward decentralized guerrilla-style operations.

The sources said Hezbollah fighters are now operating in smaller cells, carrying out rapid attacks and moving between villages across southern Lebanon to exploit operational gaps.

The report added that some of this shift is linked to the targeting of senior commanders from Hezbollah’s Radwan Force.

Hezbollah announced on Monday that it had launched 11 drone and rocket attacks targeting ‘Israeli’ troops and military vehicles in southern Lebanon and northern ‘Israel’.

Iran has used the ceasefire period to reactivate dozens of missile facilities previously targeted in airstrikes, according to The New York Times, citing a US military official.

The report says Tehran moved quickly to restore operational capacity at several strategic missile sites following recent attacks.

According to the official, Iran has also revised its military tactics in preparation for any renewed confrontation.

The adjustments reportedly include changes to deployment strategies, launch procedures and defensive positioning aimed at increasing survivability during future escalations.

The report adds that Iran has transferred large numbers of ballistic missiles into caves and fortified military complexes carved into granite mountains.