US seeks new int'l coalition to get ships moving again in Hormuz, internal cable says
US embassies should deliver the demarche orally to partner nations by May 1, but not to Russia, China, Belarus, Cuba, and "other US adversaries," said the cable.
Middle East
Netanyahu pushes for new deadline on Lebanon talks, CENTCOM prepares renewed strikes on Iran
CENTCOM prepares 'short and powerful' wave of strikes on Iran, Trump to be briefed on plan - Axios
Iranian soccer officials claim 'inappropriate behavior' at Toronto airport
Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla approached by warships, activists claim
Activists on board said security personnel boarded the ship and ordered passengers to line up at the front.
Trump: Iranian naval blockade stays until Tehran agrees to nuclear deal - Axios
US President Donald Trump says Iran will remain under a naval blockade until a nuclear deal is reached, with CENTCOM preparing for potential military strikes if negotiations fail.
Defense Minister: Counterterrorism law allows seizure of Gaza flotilla's property
Defense Minister Israel Katz cites Section 56(b) of the Counterterrorism Law to explain the seizure of property linked to terrorist activities, as the Global Sumud Flotilla sets sail for Gaza.
‘No longer a trustworthy humanitarian organization’: NGO Monitor releases report on MSF’s failings
NGO Monitor reports that Doctors Without Borders abandoned neutrality in its Gaza coverage, favoring Hamas narratives while downplaying the group's actions.
WATCH: Israel promotes Lebanon peace message in Times Square amid ceasefire talks
"Peace with Lebanon is possible and can happen soon. The world must destroy Hezbollah, which is an Iranian proxy that has destroyed Lebanon," says Consul General Ofir Akunis
How do Israel, China view their dispute over Iran - analysis
China has managed to maintain mostly positive relations with both Tehran and Jerusalem, being an important trade partner of Israel while having strategic ties with Iran.
Behind Tehran’s calm, Iran faces deepening economic collapse
While the streets are full of people, their pockets are empty. The Iranian rial has become a liability that citizens are desperate to offload.
Iraq signs anti-drone deal for Baghdad but leaves Kurdistan vulnerable to attacks - analysis
Iraq acquires anti-drone systems for Baghdad's protection but excludes Kurdistan, leaving the region exposed to ongoing militia strikes and escalating violence.
Israel engineered 'special' rats to attack Palestinians in Gaza, radical Fatah officials claim
According to Palestinian Media Watch (PMW), Jamal Obeid, a member of the Supreme Leadership Body of Fatah in Gaza, accused Israel of introducing rats into previously uninfested areas of Gaza.
‘Ceasefire on paper’: Conricus warns Iran, Hezbollah, and Hamas are using the pause to prepare
Former IDF spokesperson Jonathan Conricus says Israel faces unresolved fronts in Iran, Lebanon, and Gaza, warning that degraded enemies can still recover if not decisively defeated.
