Five people were killed ---- in the US
shelling of two civilian cargo ships
May 5th, 1:31am
(Izvestia.ru)
The US fired on two civilian cargo ships, confusing them
with boats of the Iranian Navy of the Iranian
Revolutionary Guard Corps. This was
reported on May 5 by the Tasnim
news agency, citing a
military source.
"After the false statement by the U.S. military that they had
attacked six Iranian speedboats, as none of the IRGC
warships were hit, an investigation was conducted
to verify the accuracy of this information from
local sources, and it was determined that
the U.S. aggressor forces had attacked
and fired on two small boats carrying
people," Telegram channel reported.
According to the agency,
five civilians were killed.
_____________________________
Editor's Choice
May 4: Iran repels US push at Strait of Hormuz,
hits warships ------- after they ignore warnings
May 4th, 10:08pm
by Press TV Website Staff
Iran consolidated its unchallenged control and authority over the
Strait of Hormuz on Monday amid a widening collapse of US
regional strategy, pushing back decisively against
Washington’s latest military offensives.
Tehran rejected the Pentagon’s assertion that several Iranian
boats had been destroyed, noting that no commercial
vessels or tankers had crossed the strait.
Iranian naval forces fired missiles and drones to warn off US
warships attempting to approach the restricted zone, and
two missiles later struck a US vessel that ignored
repeated warnings.
The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) vowed to forcefully
stop any vessel that defies Tehran’s management rules for
international transit.
The fallout stretched across the region, from the Fujairah port
fire in the UAE to renewed anxiety in Persian Gulf capitals,
underscoring that US adventurism is driving instability.
Key developments - on day 66 of the war,
the twenty-seventh day of the ceasefire:
A senior Iranian military official rejected a claim by the US military
that it has sunk several Iranian boats as part of an attempt to
open the Strait of Hormuz, the IRIB News reported. Head of
CENTCOM Admiral Brad Cooper said earlier that the US
military .......had destroyed six Iranian small boats and
intercepted missiles & drones fired at US warships.
A massive blaze at oil facilities in Fujairah Port in the United
Arab Emirates was a direct consequence of “American
adventurism” in the strategic Strait of Hormuz,
according to an IRIB report. Citing a senior
military source, the report said the Iranian
armed forces had no premeditated plan
to attack the UAE or its oil facilities.
No commercial vessels or oil tankers transited the Strait of
Hormuz in the past several hours, the Islamic Revolution
Guards Corps (IRGC) said, dismissing US claims as
“baseless --- and outright false.”
The Iranian Navy fired missiles and drones to warn US warships
approaching the Strait of Hormuz in an attempt to challenge
Iran’s control over the key waterway in the Persian Gulf.
Fifteen crew members of the Iranian commercial vessel Touska,
seized by the US as part of Washington’s illegal naval blockade
against the Islamic Republic, returned home from Pakistan.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei called on the
Persian Gulf states to stop trying to borrow security from extra-
regional powers, emphasising that the US military presence in
the area serves only as a source of instability and endangers
the very countries hosting those bases.
The chairman of the Iranian parliament’s national security and
foreign policy commission, Ebrahim Azizi, quoted Foreign
Minister Abbas Araghchi --- as saying that the Islamic
Republic is not currently engaged in negotiations
with the enemy on the nuclear issue.
Iran said the US has not abandoned its pattern of excessive
demands and endless greed, confirming the delivery of
Washington’s response to Tehran’s proposed 14-point
plan regarding mutual negotiations meant to end the
war against the Islamic Republic.
Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson said that US allies
in the region are aware that the US-Israeli military
aggression on Iran is not legal but rather a
“unilateral step” that goes against
international law.
Iranian foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, and his Pakistani
counterpart Mohammad Ishaq Dar discussed the recent
US aggression and Pakistan’s ongoing diplomatic
efforts for "peace and stability in the region” in
a phone call, Pakistan’s foreign ministry said
in a statement on social media.
Iran’s envoy to Germany, Majid Nili Ahmadabadi, dismissed
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s claim about Iran’s
peaceful nuclear program, saying that Berlin “must”
instead clearly condemn the deadly US-Israeli
assault on the Minab elementary school.
Pro-resistance Handala hacktivists said they have
successfully breached a US Navy database and
obtained sensitive data on 400 marines.
Hezbollah's Secretary General, Sheikh Naim Qassem, said the
Israeli regime's plots will never materialise, as the resistance
movement is resolutely fighting them off, dismissing illusions
that Lebanon is a weak country and under the guardianship
of others.
Hezbollah said it carried out 11 fresh operations against
Israeli targets, using drones, missiles, and artillery in a
series of coordinated attacks.
Lebanon’s parliament speaker, Nabih Berri, stressed:
that no talks will take place with Israel until attacks
being carried out by the occupying regime against
the Arab country --- stop.
________________________________________
Fujairah Port fire consequence of ‘US
adventurism’ in Strait of Hormuz:
IRIB source
May 4th, 7:40pm
(PressTV)
A massive blaze at oil facilities in Fujairah Port in the United
Arab Emirates on Monday was a direct consequence of
'American adventurism' in the strategic Strait of
Hormuz, according to a report.
Citing a senior military source, the Islamic Republic of Iran
Broadcasting said the Iranian armed forces had no
premeditated plan to attack the aforementioned
oil facilities.
Authorities in Fujairah said on Monday that a fire broke out
at the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone, accusing the Islamic
Republic of Iran of launching a drone strike.
“What happened was a product of the US Army’s adventurism
to create a corridor for the illegal passage of ships through
the prohibited waterways of the Strait of Hormuz,” the
source stated.
He said the US military must take responsibility
for the incident, slamming Washington... for
recklessly endangering regional stability.
In a sharp rebuke of US foreign policy that has fueled
unprecedented tensions in the region, the source
called on US officials to change their approach.
“American politicians must put an end to the ugly behaviour
of using force in the diplomatic process and cease military
adventurism in this sensitive oil region, which affects the
economies of countries around the world,” he said.
The massive fire at Fujairah Port, a key energy hub in the UAE,
came after US President Donald Trump announced he had
ordered the US military to begin an operation to break
Iran’s control over the Strait and allow commercial
ships to pass through.
The IRGC warned in response that any attempt by US military
or commercial vessels to pass through the Strait of Hormuz
without coordination with Iranian authorities would be met
with swift and decisive action.
Iran has controlled the Strait since the early days of the US-
Israeli aggression that began in late February, allowing
only ships that are deemed non-hostile.... and that
observe security protocols announced by the
Iranian military to transit the waterway.
Earlier on Monday, the Iranian Navy fired missiles and drones
to warn US warships approaching the Strait of Hormuz in an
attempt to challenge Iran’s control over it.
The Navy said it was forced to fire cruise missiles, combat
drones, and rockets near US warships that had ignored
its warnings not to approach the Strait.
__________________________________
Tracker shows US war on Iran
costs ------- exceed $70 billion
May 4th, 7:30pm
(Al Mayadeen English)
Reports estimate US spending on the Iran conflict has
surpassed $70 billion despite claims the operation is
nearing completion and winding down.
US expenditures related to military operations against Iran
have surpassed $70 billion, according to external cost
estimates, even as officials suggest the campaign is
approaching its final phase.
The figures highlight the financial scale of sustained military
attacks, which continue to draw scrutiny over their scope
and long-term objectives.
The Iran War Cost Tracker, an unofficial analytical project,
estimates total spending at approximately $70.8 billion
as of early May.
The projection is based on the initial Pentagon-reported figures
of $11.3 billion for the first six days of operations, combined
with ongoing estimated daily costs.... of roughly $1 billion,
including calculations of operational expenditure rates.
The project does not publicly disclose
its founder, or institutional backing.
Official Pentagon figures and diverging data
Official US estimates differ significantly. Jules W. Hurst III stated
that as of April 29, total spending on operations against Iran
stood at approximately $25 billion.
The discrepancy between official figures and independent
estimates reflects ongoing uncertainty...... about the full
financial scope of the campaign and the classification
of associated military expenditures.
Political claims of conflict nearing end
US President Donald Trump has stated that Iran has already
been “defeated” in the current conflict, while signaling that
Washington seeks a more decisive outcome.
These remarks come - amid broader claims that the main phase
of military operations is nearing completion, even as financial
and operational costs continue to accumulate.
Reporting on US military expenditures... has long highlighted
structural challenges in accounting for overseas operations,
particularly in conflicts involving dispersed theatres and
hybrid military activity.
US-led interventions emphasized, that war spending is often
assessed through multiple overlapping frameworks, budget
appropriations, operational costs, and supplemental
funding measures, making total cost calculations
inherently contested.
This broader pattern informs current debates over the financial
scope of US operations in the region, where transparency and
methodology differences .....continue to shape public and
political assessments.
Source: Agencies
____________________________________________
Lebanon Resistance engages
IOF ---- in close-range battle
May 4th, 7:07pm
(Al Mayadeen English)
Lebanon’s Resistance says it engaged Israeli forces in close-
range clashes in Deir Saryan, reporting casualties and
additional strikes on military positions.
The Islamic Resistance in Lebanon announced that its fighters
engaged in a direct, close-range confrontation with an Israeli
military force in the area of Khallat Raj near the town of
Deir Saryan in southern Lebanon.
According to a statement, Resistance fighters monitored the
advancing unit before opening fire once it entered effective
range, near a forward security position.
The Israeli invading force was reportedly moving
toward the direction of Zawtar al-Sharqiya
when the engagement occurred.
Ambush ....following surveillance
The Resistance said its fighters conducted precise
surveillance before initiating fire upon the Israeli
unit ...as it entered the engagement zone.
The statement described the encounter as a “close-quarters
battle,” involving light and medium weapons, with what it
called confirmed hits on the opposing force.
The engagement reportedly unfolded after Israeli troops
attempted to advance into the area ....under cover of
movement operations.
Firefight and Israeli reinforcement response
Following the initial exchange, Israeli forces reportedly
launched heavy covering fire ------- to extract their
personnel and casualties.
Additional military vehicles were deployed toward the
area of contact, prompting retaliatory shelling by
Resistance artillery units using appropriate
explosive and rocket weaponry.
The Resistance also stated that its air defense and anti-
aircraft units engaged Israeli aircraft attempting to
maneuver near the battlefield ---- forcing them
to withdraw.
According to the statement, the Israeli forces evacuated
casualties by land toward the occupied settlement of
Misgav Am before transferring them by air, deeper
into occupied territory.
Wider strikes on Israeli positions
In parallel operations, the Resistance announced
additional attacks --- targeting Israeli military
concentrations.
One strike reportedly targeted a gathering of Israeli
soldiers and vehicles near al-Khazan in the town
of Qantara at approximately 12:10.
Another operation... involved the targeting of a newly
established Israeli command position in Al-Bayyada
using drone-dropped munitions, with claimed
direct hits.
Military media releases footage
The media wing of the Resistance released footage
documenting previous operations, including their
strikes on Israeli Humvees in Al-Bayyada.......
using loitering munitions.
Additional footage reportedly showed an attack on
Israeli engineering equipment in Bint Jbeil, also
carried out using an FPV drone strike.
These releases form part of an ongoing media
campaign documenting battlefield activity in
southern Lebanon.
Source: News websites
_______________________________________
Senior Israeli commander admits
killing Palestinians.... 'like we
haven't ---- since 1967'
May 4th, 6:59pm
(PressTV)
A senior Israeli military commander has admitted that the army
is killing Palestinians at a rate “not seen since 1967” in the
West Bank, as regime forces continue their aggressive
campaign of raids, arrests, killings, and destruction
across the occupied territory.
“In three years, we have killed 1,500 terrorists,” said Avi Bluth,
a settler who has served as the Israeli army commander in
the West Bank since 2024.
He made the controversial remarks in a
closed forum, referring to Palestinians.
Bluth, who also heads the Israeli army’s Central Command,
defended the looser rules of engagement ------ that allow
the Israeli troops to open fire on unarmed Palestinians.
“The Arabs understand that ‘if someone rises to kill you,
kill him first’ is part of the rules of the Middle East, and
therefore we are killing like we have not killed since
1967,” he said.
The senior commander also .....openly acknowledged the
discriminatory policy under which Jewish Israeli stone-
throwers are left untouched ---- while Palestinians
engaging in similar acts - are shot and killed.
“So... how is there no intifada? Why aren’t they taking to
the streets? Why is the Palestinian public indifferent?
Why are there no disturbances?” he asked.
These statements come as Israeli forces intensify their
relentless attacks across the occupied West Bank,
killing civilians and expanding raids, arrests,
and bombardments.
Since October 2023, when Israel launched its genocidal
war on the besieged Gaza Strip, violence by Israeli
forces and extremist settlers in the occupied
West Bank - has killed at least 1,155
Palestinians, wounded around
11,750 others, and led to
the arrest of 22,000.
In the same period, the Israeli regime has killed at least
72,500 Palestinians and wounded more than 172,400
others during its genocidal assault on Gaza.
A recent report by QNN news outlet revealed that
organized Israeli settler violence against
Christians and other non-Jewish
communities --- in occupied
al-Quds (Jerusalem) - has
increased significantly.
This situation now endangers all Christians, Muslims,
and other non-Jews ---- in the Palestinian capital,
al-Quds, and across the occupied territories.
________________________________________
US claim of sinking Iranian boats ‘a lie’,
senior military official tells IRIB
May 4th, 6:33pm
(PressTV)
A senior Iranian military official has rejected a claim by
the US military ..that it has sunk several Iranian boats
as part of an operation to open the Strait of Hormuz.
The statement by the unidentified commander was cited
in a Monday report by the IRIB News, where the official
reacted to comments by the US Central Command
(CENTCOM) ....about an alleged confrontation
between Iranian and US naval forces in
regional waters earlier in the day.
“The US claim - regarding the sinking of a number of
Iranian combat boats is a lie,” said the commander.
Head of CENTCOM Admiral Brad Cooper, said earlier on
Monday that the US military had destroyed six Iranian
small boats and intercepted missiles and drones
fired at US warships, as he... acknowledged
that the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps
had acted ----- to stop Washington’s
attempts to break Iran’s control
over the Strait of Hormuz.
That came - after US President Donald Trump announced he
had ordered the US military to begin an operation to break
Iran’s control over the Strait and allow commercial ships
to pass through, after more than two months of being
stranded in regional waters because of the US-
Israeli aggression against Iran.
The IRGC warned in response that any attempt by US military
or commercial vessels to pass through the Strait of Hormuz
without coordination with Iranian authorities would be met
with swift and decisive action.
Iran has controlled the Strait since the early days of the US-
Israeli aggression that began in late February, allowing
only ships that are deemed as non-hostile and that
observe security protocols announced by the
Iranian military ..to transit the waterway.
The control has left nearly 3,000 ships and some 20,000
sailors stranded on both sides of the Strait, while.....
causing a major surge in international oil prices.
The IRIB also quoted the Iranian military official as denying
reports that Iran had attacked targets in the United Arab
Emirates, saying Tehran had no such plans.
That came after the UAE authorities said they had
intercepted missiles fired at the Persian Gulf
country ------- while failing to stop drones
exploding at an oil site.
__________________________
Iran announces attack --- on
US ship in Strait of Hormuz
May 4th, 10:14am
(Prensa Latina)
Iranian media reported today that a U.S. Navy ship was attacked
with missiles after ignoring a military warning while trying to
cross the Strait of Hormuz.
According to the Fars agency, the boat was hit by two shells
near the island of Jask, which prevented it from continuing
its route --- and forced it to withdraw from the area.
The source said the vessel posed a threat to maritime traffic
on the waterway, although he did not offer details on
possible damage or casualties.
Hours earlier, the Iranian military had announced that its naval
forces prevented US ships from entering the strait, which it
described as a sensitive point ..under its surveillance.
The incident comes amid rising tension ----- following warnings from
Tehran - that it would respond to any approach by US forces - after
Washington announced plans to assist stranded ships in the area.
In this regard.. the U.S. Central Command confirmed the deployment
of some 15,000 troops in support of so-called "Operation Freedom,"
aimed at guaranteeing the transit of vessels in the strait.
The situation is part of the conflict that began on February 28
between the US, Israel and Iran, followed by a temporary
ceasefire mediated by Pakistan on April 8, which was
later extended ....without a definite date.
However.... the failure of negotiations and the imposition of naval
blockade measures have raised tensions in the Strait of Hormuz,
one of the world's main energy routes.
__________________________________________
IRGC vows to 'forcefully stop' any ships
violating Strait of Hormuz regulations
May 4th, 10:13am
(PressTV)
The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has vowed
to “forcefully stop” vessels attempting to defy the
management rules --- enforced by its Navy ---
regarding international transit through
the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Spokesman Brigadier General Hossein Mohebbi
made the remarks on Monday, warning that
any maritime movement running counter
to principles declared by the Navy
would face serious risks.
He ruled out as "baseless" statements made to the contrary
by US officials and various institutions, such as the UK's
Maritime Trade Organization, regarding maritime
affairs governing the Persian Gulf.
"There has been no change in the management of the Strait of
Hormuz. Any maritime movement by civilian and commercial
vessels ..that complies with the transit protocols issued by
the IRGC Navy, and is carried out along designated routes
in coordination [with the relevant authorities], will enjoy
security and safety," he underlined.
He emphasized that it was essential for all shipping and
insurance companies ---- to pay heed to the IRGC's
related statements.
Iran - shut down the chokepoint to enemies and their allies
following the launch on February 28 of the US' and Israeli
regime's latest bout of unprovoked aggression targeting
the Islamic Republic.
It began exercising far stricter controls last month - after
Donald Trump announced an illegal blockade of Iranian
vessels and ports in continuation of the aggression -
and in violation of the terms of a ceasefire.... the
US president, himself, had declared earlier.
On Friday, the IRGC's Navy pledged to enforce Leader of the
Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei's
"historic" directive concerning the Persian Gulf and the
Strait of Hormuz.
Ayatollah Khamenei had issued the directive a day earlier,
asserting that foreigners with "ominous" plots targeting
the Persian Gulf had no place in the region "except at
the bottom of its waters."
The Leader had also underlined: implementation of a "new
management" structure ....regarding the Strait of Hormuz.
According to Ayatollah Khamenei, the Islamic Republic
"will be the vanguard of the new regional and global
order" by continuing to secure the Persian Gulf
and ensuring: that the country and its fellow
littoral states of the region enjoy progress,
comfort, and prosperity - in the absence
of foreign meddling.
_________________________________
Brazilian Activist Warns --- of a
World That Accepts Genocide
May 4th, 9:14am
(Prensa Latina)
Brazilian activist Thiago Avila, kidnapped by Israel when he
was traveling on the Sumud Global Flotilla to Gaza, warned
his daughter today, in a letter, about the danger of living in
a world that accepts genocide.
''I'm sorry I'm not home with you right now. Unfortunately, your
father, your mother and many people around the world
understood the historic task that we have the
responsibility to fulfill,'' Ávila said in the
message to his little Teresa, who
is in Brazil.
''Today, more than a million children suffer genocide, die of hunger,
suffer amputations without anesthesia and suffer due to horrible
and hateful ideas, despite not knowing what Zionism and
imperialism are,'' the activist added in the letter,
released on his social networks.
In the letter, dictated to his lawyer from prison, the Brazilian added:
"I know that you miss me very much, and all parents of Palestinian
children also miss you deeply and would give anything to live a
life of love, happiness and joy, which every human being
deserves, regardless of race, religion, ethnicity or
any other characteristic."
''Your world will be safer --- because many parents decided
to give their all, to build a better world for you,'' he added.
"I hope that one day you will understand that, because I love you
so much ---- there was nothing more dangerous for you and for
other children, than living in a world that accepts genocide,"
said the well-known fighter for the Palestinian people and
other causes around the world.
"When you grow up, your mother will also tell you -- that your father
was a revolutionary and that, even in the face of the most horrible
people in the world – Donald Trump, Benjamin Netanyahu and
Itamar Ben-Gvir – he remained steadfast in his conviction to
build a better world," the activist added, and said goodbye
with a call: "Don't forget Palestine!"
The letter is released..... in a context of growing demands for the
release of the Brazilian, after he was transferred - along with the
Spanish-Swedish of Palestinian origin, Saif Abukeshek - to
Shikma prison in Askalan, in occupied Palestine - after
his kidnapping by Israeli forces in European waters.
An Israeli court yesterday extended for two more days the
detention of the two fighters --- who, according to
information provided by relatives and the
Sumud Global Flotilla --- have been
subjected to ill-treatment
and torture.
Ávila's wife, Lara Souza, told the newspaper Correo Braziliense
that the activist recounts episodes of torture and intimidation,
including threats directed at him and his family in Brazil.
In addition, she denounced that her husband has injuries all
over his body and face, and that the blows to the head
caused a temporary loss of vision, from which he
recovered.... shortly before the meeting with
his lawyer, on Saturday.
_____________________________
Hezbollah ---- hits Israeli targets
in 11 drone, missile operations
May 4th, 6:21am
(PressTV)
The Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah says
it has carried out 11 operations --- against Israeli
targets, utilizing drones, missiles, and artillery
in a series of coordinated attacks.
The Lebanese Islamic Resistance has announced that
it carried out 11 separate operations against Israeli
regime targets, utilizing ---- drones, missiles, and
artillery - in a series of coordinated attacks.
The operations come amid continued Israeli violations
of a ceasefire that Tel Aviv was compelled to accept
after Tehran demanded an end to Israeli attacks on
Lebanese soil --- as one of its primary conditions
in indirect negotiations with Washington.
According to a report from the resistance's war media
outlet, Hezbollah fighters targeted enemy military
gatherings in the town of Naqoura, twice on
Sunday ...using suicide drones.
The majority of the resistance fighters' operations
were concentrated - on attacks against enemy
soldiers stationed in the town of Bayyadah.
These operations included drone strikes on enemy
equipment and personnel, targeted strikes --- on
surveillance cameras at an enemy command
post - and the destruction of an Namer
armoured personnel carrier -- along
with its occupants - using suicide
drones and other aerial systems.
Additionally, a missile attack was carried out against
an enemy command headquarters, and artillery fire
was directed at Israeli forces and equipment -- in
the Bayyadah area.
Hezbollah fighters also launched missiles at enemy
military gatherings around the Salah Ridge and
the main square of Qantara town.
Further operations included missile strikes on enemy
troop and equipment concentrations in the town of
Houla, as well as artillery shelling of the newly
established Balat military post.
Following the Iran-US ceasefire on April 8, Tel Aviv was
compelled to accept a ceasefire in Lebanon as well.
The Israeli military, however, quickly resumed
its assaults on southern Lebanon, issuing
evacuation threats for several areas,
even after the initial ten-day truce
between Tel Aviv and Beirut
was extended ...for an
additional 3 weeks.
Over 2,500 people have been killed in Lebanon - since
the Israeli regime went on the offensive on March 2
- according to the Lebanese authorities.