Trump says Houthis have 'surrendered' and US bombing in Yemen will stop | LIVE

Trump promises a 'very, very big announcement' ahead of next week's Middle East trip

Donald Trump on Tuesday promised a "very, very big announcement" ahead of his upcoming trip to the Middle East next week, though he declined to reveal any details.

"I think before then, we will have a very, very big announcement to make. I won’t tell you what it’s about. But it’s very positive," the U.S. president said at the White House, shortly after referencing his visit to the Middle East, which will take him to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates from May 13 to 16.

Trump says Houthis have 'surrendered,' US bombing in Yemen to cease immediately

Donald Trump announced Tuesday that the Houthis had "surrendered" and promised that U.S. bombing in Yemen would stop "with immediate effect."

"The Houthis have declared they no longer want to fight. They simply don't want to fight anymore. And we will honor that. We will stop the bombings, and they have surrendered," he said from the Oval Office alongside Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, according to AFP.

Sanaa airport 'completely destroyed,' says airport official

Sanaa International Airport, controlled by Houthi rebels, was "completely destroyed" on Tuesday in Israeli airstrikes, an airport official told AFP.

"Three of the seven planes owned by the national airline Yemenia were destroyed at Sanaa airport, and the international airport itself was completely destroyed," the official said.

"Houthis no longer want to fight, they have surrendered. They say they will no longer board ships, and we will respect that. We will no longer bomb them," declared U.S. President Donald Trump.

Humanitarian situation in Gaza 'unbearable,' says EU Foreign Policy Chief in call with Israel

The humanitarian situation in Gaza is "unbearable," said EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas during a phone call with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar.

"Humanitarian aid must resume immediately and should never be politicized," she stated on X while reporting on her conversation with Saar.

Israeli drone strike that targeted a car in the "al-Jamaat" neighborhood of Kfar Roummane (Nabatieh District) killed one person — the vehicle's driver — and injured a Syrian passerby, according to our correspondent in southern Lebanon.

Three killed in Israeli strikes, say Houthis

Three people were killed and 38 injured on Tuesday in Israeli strikes targeting Houthi rebel sites in Yemen, according to media affiliated with the insurgents.

The strikes reportedly targeted Sanaa Airport, a cement factory, and a power plant, according to Al-Masirah TV and the Saba news agency.

Israeli drone targeted a car in the al-Jamaat neighborhood in the village of Kfar Roummane (Nabatieh district), leaving at least one casualty, eyewitnesses told our correspondent in the South. The casualty has been taken to a hospital. Meanwhile, Israeli drones are still flying over the targeted area.

UNIFIL commander urges Israel to 'fully withdraw from Lebanese territory'

The commander of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), Major General Aroldo Lázaro, on Tuesday urged the Israeli army to "fully withdraw from Lebanese territory and to refrain from targeting prefabricated structures in border villages."

Yemen: Houthis threaten retaliation for Israeli strikes

The Houthis have warned they will retaliate against Tuesday’s Israeli strikes on the airport and power plants in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa.

“This aggression will not go unanswered, and Yemen will not be deterred from its stance in support of the Palestinians in Gaza,” the Houthis' political bureau said in a statement quoted by AFP.

Israeli army says it rendered Sanaa airport 'completely out of service'

Israeli army has claimed it has rendered Sanaa airport in Yemen "completely out of service."

"Runways, aircraft, and airport infrastructure were struck," the army said in a statement, adding that it also targeted "several power plants" in the Sanaa region and a "cement factory" north of the capital.

Majidieh farmers ordered to leave area

An Israeli drone ordered farmers in the Majidieh plain, Hasbaya district, to leave the area, threatening to shoot at them and drop bombs in their direction, according to our correspondent in southern Lebanon.

The Israeli army had issued similar threats on April 28.

This incident comes as Lebanese Agriculture Minister Nizar Hani recently announced that farmers are now permitted to access their lands in southern Lebanon, even those near the border with Israel.

Abbas expected in Lebanon on May 21 to discuss Palestinian refugee camps

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is expected in Beirut on May 21 to discuss the "extension of authority" of the Lebanese government to Palestinian refugee camps that are beyond its control, a government official told AFP on Tuesday.

'Complete shutdown of Sanaa Airport operations' following Israeli strikes, Israeli army claims

Commenting on the strikes at Sanaa International Airport, the Israeli army explained that it had "recently attacked and destroyed infrastructure belonging to the Houthi group at the central airport of Sanaa, leading to a complete shutdown of airport operations."

In a statement released by Arabic-speaking spokesperson Avichay Adraee, the army noted that the Houthis "use the airport—just like the port of Hodeidah, which was attacked yesterday—to transfer combat equipment and bring in militants." "Several power plants in the Sanaa region were also targeted," along with the Al-Amran cement factory to the north of Sanaa, he added.

Israeli Army and Shin Bet chiefs meet to approve Gaza 'conquest' plan

Israeli Chief of Staff General Eyal Zamir and Shin Bet head Ronen Bar are meeting with the Israeli military high command to approve plans "in preparation for the expansion of the ground maneuver in the Gaza Strip as part of Operation 'Gideon's Chariots,'" the Israeli army reported on X. This operation was approved on Monday evening by the Israeli war cabinet and aims for the "conquest" of the Gaza Strip.

Israeli army swept area around the occupied Hamames hill with machine gun fire, according to our correspondent in the South.

Houthi media report 'Israeli-US' strikes on Sanaa airport

Media outlets affiliated with Yemen’s Houthi rebels reported that strikes targeted Sanaa airport, following a call by the Israeli army for people to evacuate the area around the Yemeni capital’s airport.

“The American-Israeli aggression targeted Sanaa International Airport with a series of strikes,” announced the rebels’ Al-Masirah channel. Two AFP correspondents in Sanaa reported hearing multiple strikes and seeing smoke rising from various locations.

This marks the first time Israel has publicly issued a warning ahead of carrying out a strike in Yemen. According to Israeli outlet Maariv, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu left a courtroom—where he was attending a hearing—following the emergency evacuation call and headed to the military headquarters at the Kirya in Tel Aviv.

Yemen

Israeli army urgently calls for evacuation of Sanaa International Airport

In a post on X, the Arabic-language spokesperson for the Israeli army, Avichay Adraee, called for the "immediate evacuation of the area of Sanaa International Airport and for everyone around you to be warned of the need to leave the area immediately."

"Failure to evacuate and leave the location puts you in danger," he added. This type of warning—though recurring—is unprecedented in relation to Sanaa airport and typically precedes an airstrike.

Israel issued a threat on Monday morning to retaliate "seven times harder" after a missile—allegedly fired from Yemen, according to the Israeli army—briefly shut down Ben-Gurion International Airport. On Tuesday evening, the Israeli military carried out strikes on the port of Hodeidah.

Israeli army calls for evacuation of Sanaa International Airport

The Arabic-language spokesperson for the Israeli army issued a call on X urging the evacuation of Sanaa International Airport.

“We ask you to immediately evacuate the area of Sanaa International Airport and to warn everyone around you of the need to leave the premises immediately,” he said. “If you do not evacuate and leave the area, your safety will be at risk,” added Adraee.

Qatar says "efforts are ongoing" to reach a truce agreement in Gaza

Qatar, which is mediating between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas, said on Tuesday that it is continuing its efforts toward a truce in Gaza, shortly after a Hamas statement declaring that negotiations were no longer of interest at this stage.

"Our efforts are ongoing despite the difficulty of the situation and the catastrophic humanitarian conditions" in the Palestinian territory, said Majed al-Ansari, spokesperson for the Qatari Foreign Ministry, noting "ongoing contacts" between the concerned parties, according to AFP.

Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed progress talks between Iran and the U.S. with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, the Kremlin said, according to Reuters.

Putin said Russia is ready to facilitate dialogue between Iran and the US to reach a "fair agreement."

They also discussed bilateral relations, including the development of major energy projects, the Kremlin said.

Houthi rebels report four killed after Israeli strikes

Houthi rebels have reported four killed in the west of the country following the strikes that Israel said it carried out the day before in response to "attacks" by the Iran-backed insurgents.

"Three people were killed and 35 injured following the American-Israeli aggression on the Bajil cement factory," while the bombing of the port of Hodeidah left one dead and four injured, reported the rebels' Al-Masirah TV channel, citing the Houthi Health Ministry.

Sharaa received Wednesday in Paris by Macron, with 'stabilization' of Lebanon on the agenda

Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa will be received on Wednesday in Paris by Emmanuel Macron for his first visit to Europe, the Elysee Palace announced to AFP on Tuesday.

The French president "will reaffirm France's support for the building of a new Syria — a free, stable, and sovereign Syria that respects all components of Syrian society," the same source stated.

"This meeting is part of France’s historic commitment to the Syrian people, who aspire to peace and democracy," the French presidency added, assuring that Emmanuel Macron would reiterate "his demands to the Syrian government, foremost among them the stabilization of the region, especially Lebanon, as well as the fight against terrorism."

Palestinians waiting in line during a food distribution in the Nuseirat camp, in central Gaza Strip, on May 5, 2025. (Credit: Eyad Baba/AFP.)

Hamas says new truce negotiations are no longer of interest

Hamas has stated that negotiations for a truce in Gaza are no longer of interest at this stage and called on the international community to pressure Israel to end the "war of hunger," following Israel's announcement of a plan to "conquer" the Palestinian territory.

Israeli army carried out several strikes yesterday on the Lebanon-Syria border

The Israeli air force carried out six strikes last night along the Lebanon-Syria border, according to our correspondent in the Bekaa Valley, Sarah Abdallah.

The first targeted the area around Janta, on the Syrian side of the border, and the second hit the Shaara area in the Anti-Lebanon mountain range, a border region. Three additional strikes then targeted the area around Janta. One more strike hit a remote mountainous zone between Serghaya and Flita, in the Qalamoun region.

Israeli night strikes target southern Lebanon

In the evening, the Israeli army also carried out four strikes on Tayr Harfa, in the Sour district, according to our correspondent in southern Lebanon. Prefabricated structures were reportedly targeted.

After 11 p.m., Israeli drones fired a missile at a car scrapyard in Srifa, also in the Sour district.

Israeli drones flying over southern Lebanon

Israeli drones have been flying over southern Lebanon up to Saida since last night, according to our correspondent in the region.

☕Good morning and welcome to our live blog, stay tuned for updates on the situation in Lebanon and the rest of the Middle East. Including the war in Gaza, strikes on Yemen and Syria.