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Venezuela reshuffles foreign relationships as oil production grows
As Nicolás Maduro’s foreign minister and vice president, interim Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez previously helped build Caracas’s ties to Russia, China, and other US adversaries. Despite Washington’s desire for Venezuela to now orient toward the West, Rodríguez is also courting middle powers that can give Caracas room to maneuver, an effort aided by Venezuela’s recovering oil economy.
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Iraq’s prime minister prepares US visit amid Iran threats and militia focus
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al Zaidi is set to visit Washington, DC, as his government seeks investment, security cooperation, and support for efforts to strengthen state authority. A central focus of his agenda is bringing weapons held by Iranian-backed militias under government control, a process Baghdad hopes to advance before the planned end of the US anti-Islamic State mission in September 2026.
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IDF targets Hamas middle managers, reports 15 strikes and ceasefire violations May 29–June 10
Following the high-profile eliminations of two Hamas military wing leaders, the Israeli military turned to targeting lower-level officials in the group who are leading its rearmament push, as well as members of other Gaza terrorist organizations.
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Houthis attack Israel and announce ban on Israeli vessels in the Red Sea
The Houthis in Yemen launched two missiles at Israel and declared a blockade of Israeli vessels in the Red Sea on Monday. The Iran-backed terror group conducted this attack during waves of Iran’s own missile attacks against Israel.
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Russia reopening military schools to expand officer training pipeline
Moscow announced that it will re-establish the Chelyabinsk Higher Tank Command School, one of more than a dozen new schools Russia is standing up to expand its officer-training pipeline for a larger military that has been heavily attrited by the war in Ukraine.
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Houthis emphasize solidarity and coordination with Iran-led Axis of Resistance
The Houthis in Yemen reiterated support for their partners in the Iran-led Axis of Resistance, singling out Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza. While leaving the door open to further involvement in the ongoing regional conflict, the group stopped short of saying it would join the fighting.
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Several Iranian-backed militias in Iraq say they accept state control of weapons
Iraq’s new government is attempting to bring weapons held by Iranian-backed militias under state control, a move that could reshape the role of armed groups linked to the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF). Several militias have announced plans to place their arms under government authority and disengage from the PMF, while others remain opposed or have issued mixed signals.
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US Syria Envoy Barrack tapped for Syria and Iraq role
Syria is seeking to deepen ties with the US and expand regional diplomacy as the countries pursue discussions on reconstruction, sanctions relief, and economic recovery. Simultaneously, Syria faces ongoing regional shifts, including emerging trade routes, increased use of Syrian airspace, and broader tensions affecting reconstruction and political integration.
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Muqtada al Sadr announces integration of his militia into the Iraqi state
Iraqi nationalist cleric Muqtada al Sadr announced that his militia, Saraya al Salam, will integrate into state security institutions. This development comes as Iraq’s new political leadership is navigating the issue of disarming Iran-backed militias.
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Syria holds elections in Kurdish-majority areas, finds Assad-era chemical weapons
Syria moved forward with another round of local elections on May 24 as the government seeks to strengthen its legitimacy and extend authority following years of conflict. The vote came as Damascus said it was working with the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to turn over remnants of the previous Assad regime’s chemical weapons program.
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Israel reportedly targets Imam Hossein Division missile commander in Beirut strike
On May 28, Israel conducted its first strike in weeks targeting Beirut. The Israelis have yet to confirm it, but reporting indicates that the intended target was Ali al Hussaini, a commander in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Forces’ Imam Hossein Division. This division, whose origins were in the Syrian Civil War, has been reinforcing Hezbollah throughout the conflict with Israel that began in October 2023.
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IDF kills new Hamas military leader, reports 10 ceasefire violations May 21–May 28
Less than two weeks after Hamas named Mohammed Odeh as its new military commander, Israel eliminated him. The IDF also targeted a number of other high-profile Hamas members as the terrorist group continues refusing to disarm.
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Shabaab spokesman congratulates JNIM, denounces Western powers in Eid message
During his message for Eid al Adha, Ali Mohamad Rage, Shabaab’s top spokesman, congratulated the Group for Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), Al Qaeda’s branch in West Africa, for its recent victories in Mali. Rage also praised Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and denounced American and Turkish activities in Somalia.
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Iran conducts new attacks on Kurdish opposition groups in northern Iraq
The Kurdistan Freedom Party (PAK) said Iranian drones and a missile struck one of its facilities near Erbil on May 25, wounding nine Peshmerga, while other camps were reportedly also targeted in recent weeks. Kurdish Iranian opposition groups, operating from Iraq’s Kurdistan Region for decades, formed a coalition to coordinate activities in February. The attacks come as Iraq’s new government seeks to curb armed groups and address regional security concerns.
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Amid security threats, Syria attempts to cement stability, international ties
A car bombing in central Damascus on May 19 killed one soldier and wounded civilians, as Syrian forces conducted raids against suspected militants in Deir Ez Zor. Damascus is also advancing reconciliation efforts with Kurdish groups and pursuing international diplomatic engagement.
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Hamas replaces military wing leader, IDF reports 19 Gaza ceasefire violations May 6–20
After the elimination of Al Qassam Brigades leader Izz al Din al Haddad on May 15, Hamas has reportedly turned to longtime senior member Mohammed Odeh to take the reins of the group’s military wing. As Hamas reportedly rearms and reconstitutes its strength, the IDF reports that its members and other Palestinian terrorists have continued to violate the ceasefire in Gaza.
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Saudi Arabia and UAE say drone attacks were launched from Iraq
Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates said that recent drone attacks targeting their territory originated from Iraq, increasing pressure on Baghdad to address the activities of Iranian-backed militias operating inside the country. The incidents come amid continued regional tensions involving Iran and have intensified scrutiny of Iraq’s newly formed government.
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UAE sanctions Hezbollah-linked financial network, reflecting US designations
The UAE’s designation of 16 Hezbollah-linked individuals and five affiliated organizations mirrors prior US Treasury sanctions targeting the broader web of financial, accounting, and institutional entities connected to Hezbollah’s economic ecosystem.
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US, Nigerian forces kill senior Islamic State leader
The US military, “in coordination with the Armed Forces of Nigeria,” killed Abu Bilal al Minuki and several other senior Islamic State leaders in an operation in northeastern Nigeria. President Trump and US Africa Command described Minuki as the Islamic State’s second in command and director of global operations.
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Hamas commander Izz al Din al Haddad targeted in Israeli airstrike
The Israeli military attacked an apartment in Gaza City, targeting Izz al Din al Haddad, Hamas’s leader in Gaza. Al Haddad is one of the last remaining senior members of Hamas who were responsible for the October 7 attack.
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Iraq forms new government with only 14 of 23 ministers
Iraq’s parliament approved the new government six months after parliamentary elections in November 2025. Ali al Zaidi is now the prime minister, but key ministries remain unfilled amid disagreements between Tehran and Washington and their partners over the government’s formation.
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Israel trains new civilian security squads for 67 Gaza border communities
Israel is expanding civilian security preparedness in communities near the Gaza border through a new training program led by Magen 48, a non-profit civilian-led initiative, in cooperation with the Israel Defense Forces. The program, created after the October 7 Hamas attack, trains local volunteer armed response teams in tactics, medical support, and community defense.
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Iraqi security forces and politicians react to reports of ‘secret’ Israeli base
A report alleging that Israel operated a secret military base in Iraq’s Najaf desert has sparked controversy and conflicting statements among Iraqi politicians and security forces. The report emerged amid sensitive political negotiations in Baghdad and broader tensions involving Iran-backed militias, Israel, the United States, and Iran.
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3 October 7 perpetrators identified with facial recognition software
Open-source information and commercially available facial recognition tools have identified three suspects— Amjad Qadoum, Yasir Samir, and Mustafa Shaheen—who were involved in the October 7 Hamas-led massacre in southern Israel. Facial recognition tools and social media exploitation can yield verifiable identity data from the extensive footage recorded by the terrorists’ own devices.
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Israel assassinates commander of Hezbollah Radwan Force
On May 6, Israel conducted its first strike in the greater Beirut metropolitan area since the onset of a ceasefire on April 16. The strike targeted an apartment building in Dahiyeh, and one of the alleged fatalities was Ahmad Ghaleb Ballout, whom Israel claimed was the newest leader of Hezbollah’s Radwan Force commando unit.
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Protests in Syria’s Kurdish region highlight demand for rights
Protests erupted in Hasaka in eastern Syria after authorities replaced Kurdish and Arabic on a government billboard with English and Arabic, angering local residents. The incident reflects broader tensions as Damascus seeks to reassert control over eastern Syria following agreements with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces.
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Iran targets Kurdish Iranian opposition groups in northern Iraq
Iran has intensified attacks on Kurdish Iranian opposition groups in northern Iraq, targeting camps linked to the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran and Komala with drones in early May. The strikes are part of a broader campaign by Iran and its allied militias against Kurdish groups operating in the Kurdistan Region.
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Israeli forces face challenges as Hezbollah ramps up use of FPV drones
During the renewed conflict with Israel, Hezbollah has increasingly relied on an arsenal of first-person view (FPV) drones that it amassed and developed over the 15 months of the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire. These drones, which are guided by fiber-optic cables instead of radio, are proving effective against Israeli forces because they are hard to intercept and detect, and the IDF was unprepared to deal with this threat.
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Syria reports neutralizing Hezbollah plot to assassinate senior officials
On May 5, Syrian authorities said that security forces dismantled a Hezbollah-linked militant network operating across multiple governorates, arresting 11 operatives, seizing weapons, and foiling planned assassinations.
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Talks over Hamas disarmament stall, IDF reports 19 Gaza ceasefire violations April 21–May 5
Hamas and other Palestinian terrorists continued to violate the Gaza ceasefire toward the end of April and beginning of May, according to Israeli military reports. Hamas remains adamant that it will not even begin to discuss disarmament before a complete IDF withdrawal from the territory.
