Kumar Bahukhandi
U.S. President Donald Trump. – Photo Credit: AP
In a significant show of diplomatic support, U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a robust endorsement of Israel, characterising the nation as a premier strategic partner during periods of heightened regional instability
The Strait of hormuz is closed until the U.S. blockade is lifted, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard navy said on Saturday April 18, 2026 late night, warning that “no vessel should make any movement from its anchorage in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman, and approaching the Strait of Hormuz will be considered as cooperation with the enemy” and be targeted.
Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem said the ongoing 10-day truce with Israel cannot be one-sided, vowing that his fighters would respond to Israeli attacks on Lebanon.
The Israeli military said its air force had eliminated a “terrorist cell” operating near its troops in southern Lebanon, despite the ceasefire there.
Updates
April 19, 2026 11:12
Hezbollah leader dismisses ceasefire paper published by U.S.
Naim Kassem, head of the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, in a statement read on the group’s al- Manar TV said a paper published by the U.S. State Department that it described as the text of a ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel “means nothing at the practical level, but it is an insult to our country”.
“Everyone knows that the government of Lebanon has not met or approved this statement,” he said.
The text published by the U.S. described the 10-day truce as a gesture by Israel “to enable good-faith negotiations” toward a permanent peace agreement with Lebanon.
The text gives Israel the “right to take all necessary measures in self-defence, at any time, against planned, imminent, or ongoing attacks”. It does not mention any similar right for Lebanon or Hezbollah.
Kassem said the truce should entail “a complete cessation of all hostilities” and that Hezbollah “will respond to enemy violations”.
-AP
April 19, 2026 10:53
Ahead of U.S.-Iran talks, Pak authorities take stringent security measures
Despite no official announcement about a second round of talks between the U.S. and Iran, Pakistani authorities have begun taking stringent security measures for the safety of foreign delegates.
The U.S. and Iran held rare direct talks in Pakistan on April 11 and 12 aimed at ending their conflict, but the talks ended without any agreement.
Pakistan re-launched its diplomatic efforts to facilitate another round of talks in Islamabad for a final agreement to end the war between Washington and Tehran.– Reuters
April 19, 2026 10:35
Iran to reopen airspace in phased ‘four-stage’ plan following regional conflict
Iran is preparing to reopen its national airspace in a phased, four-stage plan following significant disruptions caused by recent regional conflicts, as reported by the Tasnim News Agency.
Citing the deputy director of Iran’s Civil Aviation Organisation, the report indicates that flight operations will resume in a graduated manner, moving from the eastern regions of the country towards the west.The proposed plan is aimed at restoring normalcy following significant disruptions triggered by recent regional conflicts. According to the state-linked news agency, the restoration of Iranian airspace will be executed across four distinct stages.– ANI
April 19, 2026 10:17
IDF announces death of reservist in southern Lebanon
he Israel Defence Forces (IDF) on Sunday announced the death of Sergeant First Class (Res.) Lidor Porat (31), who, according to the IDF, was killed during combat operations in southern Lebanon.In an official statement, the IDF said,
“The name of a fallen soldier whose family has been notified was cleared for publication,” identifying the soldier as “Sergeant First Class (Res.) Lidor Porat, aged 31, from Ashdod, a soldier in the 7106th Battalion, 769th Regional Brigade” who, according to the IDF, “fell during combat in southern Lebanon.”The military added that the incident also left multiple soldiers injured.
“In the incident in which Sergeant First Class (Res.) Lidor Porat fell, an additional soldier was severely injured, four soldiers were moderately injured, and four additional soldiers were lightly injured,” the statement said.– ANI
April 19, 2026 08:55
Israeli military says one soldier killed in southern Lebanon
The Israeli military said on Sunday that one soldier was killed during combat in southern Lebanon, adding that nine soldiers were wounded, including one who was severely injured.– Reuters
April 19, 2026 08:29
Trump calls Israel “great ally” that “knows how to win” in robust show of support
In a significant show of diplomatic support, US President Donald Trump has issued a robust endorsement of Israel, characterising the nation as a premier strategic partner during periods of heightened regional instability.In a recent statement shared via Truth Social, the Republican leader asserted that the Middle Eastern nation has “proven to be a GREAT Ally of the United States of America.” Elaborating on the specific attributes of the partnership, he lauded the country as being “courageous, bold, loyal, and smart.”— ANI
April 19, 2026 08:14
Iran fully closes Strait of Hormuz over U.S. blockade
Iran fully closes Strait of Hormuz over U.S. blockade
Iran closes the Strait of Hormuz, escalating tensions with the U.S. amid an ongoing blockade and military confrontations.
April 19, 2026 07:46
Iran ‘victorious’ in war with U.S., Speaker says
Iran had been “victorious in the field” during weeks of war and had only agreed to a temporary truce with the United States because its demands had been met, the Iranian parliamentary speaker said on Saturday April 18, 2026 .
The two-week ceasefire is set to end Wednesday unless it is renewed, with a permanent deal that mediators including Pakistan are pushing to get over the line still not finalised and progress on key sticking points uncertain.
“We were victorious in the field,” Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said in a national televised address, adding the United States had not achieved its goals and Iran controlled the strategic Strait of Hormuz maritime transit route.– AFP
April 19, 2026 07:38
Strait of Hormuz to stay closed until port blockade lifts, Iran says
The crucial Strait of Hormuz will not reopen until the United States lifts its naval blockade on Iranian ports, Tehran said Saturday, as a top official warned that a final peace deal remained “far” off.
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, speaker of the Iranian parliament, said in a televised address that there has been “progress” in talks with Washington “but there are many gaps and some fundamental points remain.”
“We are still far from the final discussion,” said Ghalibaf, one of Tehran’s negotiators in the talks aimed at ending the war launched by Israel and the United States against the Islamic Republic.
— AFP
