Aletho News

IRGC Navy: 20 commercial ships transit Hormuz in 24 hours after obtaining permission

Press TV – May 30, 2026

The IRGC Navy has announced that 20 commercial vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz over the past 24 hours after obtaining permission and coordinating with the force.

Speaking to the Iranian State Broadcaster (IRIB) in Hormozgan Province, the IRGC Navy’s Public Relations Office said that 20 commercial ships transited the strategic waterway during the last day following coordination with the force.

The IRGC Navy emphasized that “intelligent control and monitoring of the Strait of Hormuz is being carried out with full authority, and any violation will be met with a crushing response.” … Full article

Trump says one thing, does another; naval blockade remains in place

Al Mayadeen | May 30, 2026

The US maritime blockade on Iran remains in effect, with US Central Command (CENTCOM) continuing to issue warnings along the designated blockade line in an effort to stop Iranian vessels from crossing the restricted zone, Tasnim News Agency reported.

According to Iranian sailors cited by Tasnim, naval restrictions are still being enforced, and ships approaching the area have been ordered by CENTCOM to stay back and avoid passage.

The report further stated that after US President Donald Trump announced the cancellation of the naval blockade the previous night, some Iranian ships attempted to cross the line. However, they faced warnings from US warships ordering them to immediately turn back and remain behind the blockade line or face live fire.

US president not worthy of dialogue

In response to the developments, Major General Mohsen Rezaei, a member of Iran’s Expediency Discernment Council, posted on X: “As expected, the American president betrays diplomacy for the third time by continuing the naval blockade and exaggerating demands during talks.”

He added that “the American president has proven more than ever that he is not worthy of dialogue and is pursuing other goals.”

US President Donald Trump announced on May 29 that the US naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz “will now be lifted,” declaring that ships caught in the waterway may “start the process of heading home” and outlining what he alleged is an agreed framework between Washington and Tehran. … Full article

Five Americans injured in Iranian missile strike on Kuwait base: Report

Press TV – May 30, 2026

An Iranian ballistic missile attack on a Kuwaiti air base has wounded several American military personnel and caused serious damage to two US MQ-9 Reaper drones, according to a new report.

The American news outlet Bloomberg, citing an informed source, said in a report published on Saturday that the attack on the Ali Al Salem Air Base resulted in minor injuries to approximately five individuals, including US service members and contractors.

It also caused significant damage to two MQ-9 Reaper drones, with one reportedly destroyed and another heavily damaged. Each drone is valued at around $30 million. … continue

Ukraine ‘deliberately’ struck Europe’s largest nuclear plant – Rosatom

RT | May 30, 2026

The Ukrainian military attacked Russia’s Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), puncturing a hole in the machine hall of one of the facility’s units, Aleksey Likhachev, CEO of the Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom, has said.

The ZNPP – which has repeatedly been attacked by Kiev forces over the past years – came under a new attack on Saturday, with a fiber-optics-guided drone making it to the machine hall of the sixth power unit of the plant. Given that such munitions are guided by their operators until the impact, the strike was carried out deliberately, and any “theories of an accidental hit” can be ruled out, Likhachev stated.

“One could, if I may put it this way, ‘congratulate’ the entire international community – this is the first-ever deliberate attack on the nuclear power plant’s main equipment, with a penetrative explosion and damage to the machine hall,” he said.

“The Ukrainian armed forces repeatedly cross not just red lines, but the very boundaries of common sense. What to expect next? Strikes directly on the turbine? The reactor hall? The reactor and its safety systems?”

The Collective West, U.S., EU, and NATO, has morphed into a terrorist network

Strategic Culture Foundation | May 29, 2026

The murder of 21 Russian teenage students at a teacher-training college last week was an abominable moment of truth with far-reaching, grievous implications.

A grim, consequential watershed in the West’s conflict with Russia has arrived. … continue

US strike on alleged drug vessel in Pacific raises death toll to 202

Al Mayadeen | May 30, 2026

The US military carried out another attack on a vessel in the eastern Pacific on Friday, claiming it was involved in drug trafficking activities, as Washington’s ongoing campaign against alleged cartel-linked maritime operations continues to expand.

In a statement posted on X, the US Southern Command said the operation targeted a boat allegedly involved in narcotics smuggling on behalf of a designated terrorist organization. Three people were reportedly killed in the strike, bringing the total number of fatalities from the campaign to 202 since the operations began in September.

The latest attack follows two similar strikes announced earlier this week, as part of Trump’s campaign against alleged Latin American drug cartels. […]

However, the campaign has generated mounting criticism from legal experts, human rights organizations, and relatives of those killed, who argue that Washington is carrying out lethal operations without publicly presenting sufficient evidence against the targeted vessels.

The concerns have intensified following several disputed incidents in which survivors and families said the victims were fishermen rather than drug traffickers. One of the most widely reported cases involved an Ecuadorian fishing vessel whose crew said they were engaged in lawful fishing activities when they came under attack. Survivors maintained they had no connection to drug trafficking and were later released without charges. … Full article

Bulgaria facing EU punishment months after joining eurozone

RT | May 30, 2026

Bulgaria is facing EU sanctions due to an excessive budget deficit, just months after joining the eurozone, Prime Minister Rumen Radev has said. He claimed that the crisis was caused by the previous pro-EU government, which massaged economic numbers to narrowly pass the threshold to join the eurozone in the first place.

Speaking at a cabinet meeting in Sofia on Friday, Radev, who is widely regarded as an EU skeptic, said that the European Commission would publish its formal report on the country’s fiscal situation on June 3, thus launching the so-called excessive deficit procedure.

Under the procedure, Sofia must bring spending from last year’s 3.5% back below the 3% ceiling by putting a binding cap on the budget deficit. If Bulgaria fails, the EU can freeze funding and go as far as to impose fines of up to 0.05% of GDP every six months on the Balkan country.

Radev blamed the situation on a “difficult legacy” stemming from “negligence, incompetence, voluntarism, populism, and financial misconduct” by the previous center-right and pro-EU Zhelyazkov government, which collapsed in December 2025 following mass anti-corruption protests. … continue

EU and NATO pushing Romania toward war with Russia – MEP

RT | May 30, 2026

The leaders of the EU and NATO are using the recent drone incident in Romania to push the country closer to war with Russia, Diana Sosoaca, a Romanian member of the European Parliament and former senator, has told RT.

Romania blamed Russia after a drone crashed into an apartment block in the city of Galati near the Ukrainian border on Friday, injuring two people.

Russian President Vladimir Putin called on Romania to share data about the incident for an “objective investigation,” while Russia’s ambassador to Bucharest, Vladimir Lipaev, told RT that there is no proof the drone came from Russia.

“We ask for an international investigation,” Sosoaca, the leader of the opposition SOS Romania party, said. “There are only assumptions” fueled by anti-Russian fearmongering, she added.

Sosoaca went on to say that the EU and NATO are seeking to “push Romania to attack Russia,” while critics of escalation are being labeled as spies for Moscow.

Sosoaca added that the Romanian government will use the incident as a pretext for increased defense spending. She pointed to Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan, who vowed on Friday to accelerate efforts to acquire anti-drone equipment through the EU’s Security Action for Europe (SAFE) program.

These measures are unpopular with ordinary Romanians, who “don’t want to be at war with Russia,” Sosoaca said. … Full article

NATO member blasts ‘irresponsible’ Baltic threat to Russian exclave

RT | May 30, 2026

Croatian President Zoran Milanovic broke ranks with other NATO members as he slammed Lithuania’s foreign minister for his “irresponsible” call to attack the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad.

Milanovic’s comments came after Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys called NATO the “strongest organization ever created” last week, arguing for a more assertive posture toward Russia and saying European NATO members must turn “fear of the threat into a sense of empowerment.”

“We have to show the Russians that we’re capable of penetrating the small fortress they’ve built in Kaliningrad,” he said. “NATO has the capability, if necessary, to raze Russian air defenses and missile bases there to the ground.” … continue

Le Pen leads every major rival in new French presidential runoff polling

By Thomas Brooke | Remix News | May 29, 2026

Marine Le Pen would beat every major rival in a second-round French presidential election runoff, according to new polling that hypothesized her eligibility to stand in the election expected in April next year.

A Toluna-Harris Interactive poll for M6 and RTL, conducted on May 27, found Le Pen ahead in all three tested runoff scenarios when she is the National Rally candidate. … continue

Russia urges Armenia to hold EU membership referendum

Al Mayadeen | May 29, 2026

Russia and several of its regional allies called on Armenia to hold a referendum “as soon as possible” on potential membership in the European Union, as tensions continue to grow over Yerevan’s expanding ties with Brussels.

Speaking during a summit in Astana on Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Armenia would ultimately have to choose between deeper integration with the EU or remaining within the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).

“Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan himself said that he considers it right to hold a referendum on this issue,” Putin said. “We would like this to be done as soon as possible.” … continue

Putin calls for data on Romania drone incident to be shared

RT | May 29, 2026

Russian President Vladimir Putin has called for an “objective investigation” into a drone incident in Romania in which two people were injured. Moscow is ready to share its assessment if it is provided with either the debris of the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) or the data about it, he told journalists on Friday.

A drone crashed into an apartment block in the eastern Romanian city of Galati near the Ukrainian border early on Friday. The Romanian Defense Ministry claimed the UAV had originated from Russia.

Putin noted that drones have previously crashed in various EU nations, including Finland, Poland, and the Baltic States.

“A short time later, it would emerge that these incidents had nothing to do with Russian aircraft at all. Rather, they involved drones of Ukrainian origin that had gone off course due to electronic warfare… or technical shortcomings,” the president said during his visit to Kazakhstan. … continue

Fars sources dispute Trump claims on proposed Iran agreement

Al Mayadeen | May 29, 2026

Fars News Agency cited informed sources rejecting recent claims by US President Donald Trump regarding a potential agreement with Iran, saying his remarks are “a mixture of truths and lies” aimed at portraying a “fabricated victory.”

According to the report, the proposed agreement, drafted under the framework of “commitment in exchange for commitment,” is currently in the final stages of approval in Iran, though no final decision has yet been made.

The sources said Trump, whom they said is unable to withdraw from the agreement process, made statements that contradict the actual provisions of the text while simultaneously claiming that the US would immediately end the blockade against Iran. … continue

Italy: Protesters stage nationwide strike, demand end to Israeli genocide in Gaza

Press TV – May 29, 2026

Unions in Italy have staged demonstrations and a nationwide general strike, urging officials to meet their demands, including an end to Israel’s ongoing genocide in the besieged Gaza Strip and its aggression against Lebanon.

Demonstrations and transport disruptions took place across the country on Friday as part of the strike, which was organized by grassroots labor unions.

The participating groups strongly condemned “the ongoing genocide against the Palestinian and Lebanese people” and called on the Italian government to immediately suspend all political and commercial relations with Israel.

The 24-hour strike was called by several grassroots unions, including CUB, SGB, SI COBAS, and USI, in coordination with pro-Palestinian organizations.

Marches and rallies were held in major cities including Rome, Milan, Naples, Bologna, Florence, Genoa, Turin, Palermo, and Catania.

Protesters also highlighted the “high cost of living generated by wars,” while demanding higher wages and pensions, an end to evictions, and the elimination of insecure employment. … Full article

IOF closes Ibrahimi Mosque to Muslims until further notice

Palestinian Information Center – May 29, 2026

AL-KHALIL – The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) closed the Ibrahimi Mosque to Muslim worshipers on Friday until further notice.

Acting director of the Ibrahimi Mosque Hammam Abu Markhiya said the IOF closed the Mosque in the morning, with guards, staff, and worshipers forced to leave.

He described the move as a “blatant violation of the Mosque’s Islamic sanctity” and a “provocative assault on Muslims’ right to access their places of worship.”

The IOF also tightened military measures in al-Khalil City, shutting down all checkpoints and entrances leading to the holy site. … continue

Israel Is Arming ISIS Linked Gangs With Military Drones To Help Carry Out Further Ethnic Cleansing In Gaza

The Dissident | May 28, 2026

Israel is going forward with its plan to force Gaza’s Palestinian population to flee to make way for Israeli annexation.

Israel Katz, Israel’s defence minister, said last week, “the voluntary emigration plan from Gaza will be implemented” , “everything at the right timing and in the right manner”, “voluntary emigration” being a euphemism for the complete ethnic cleansing of Gaza.

Benjamin Netanyahu has since stated that he ordered IDF militants to occupy 70 percent of the Gaza Strip, in violation of the so-called “ceasefire”.

Benjamin Netanyahu said , “At this point, we are fully in control of 60% of the territory of the Gaza Strip… and my directive is to get to… 70%”.

Netanyahu implied the end Israeli goal is to occupy all of Gaza, saying, “First 70%. We’ll start with that” in response to calls from audience members to occupy “100 percent”.

To aid in this genocidal campaign of ethnic cleansing and annexation, Israel has again tasked its criminal proxies in Gaza. … continue

Beyond Gaza: The expanding geography of displacement

By Dr Oroub El-Abed | MEMO | May 29, 2026

The War on Gaza continues and has not stopped. It is even expanding to wider geography of displacement and has been unfolding across the Eastern Mediterranean. The Zionists are empowered to widen their gradual restructuring of the land: depopulating borderlands, fragmenting societies, erasing cultural landscapes, and normalising permanent instability across the whole of Palestine, southern Lebanon, and southern Syria. … continue

Israeli spy Pollard says Turkiye and Egypt could be Israel’s next targets as Ankara is cast as ‘new Iran’

MEMO | May 29, 2026

Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard has suggested that Turkiye and Egypt could be Israel’s next military targets, echoing a growing Israeli narrative that increasingly casts Ankara as the “new Iran” and a future strategic enemy.

Speaking on an Arutz Sheva podcast, Pollard said Israel should prepare for wider regional wars following its confrontation with Iran. “I’m not so sure that we will have as easy a time with the Turks as we’ve had with the Iranians,” he said. “We have to be prepared for the next war, which will probably be against Turkiye and Egypt. The storm is coming.”

Pollard also warned Israel against allowing the Turkish-backed transitional government in Syria to regain control of southern areas occupied by Israeli forces, arguing that such a move would place “the Turks on our border”. His comments come amid growing Israeli concern over Turkiye’s role in Syria and its expanding regional influence.

The remarks are consistent with a wider Israeli effort to reframe Turkiye as a major military threat. Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has described Turkiye, with Qatari support, as replacing Iran as Israel’s main strategic challenge, while Israeli security circles have warned of possible direct confrontation with Ankara in Syria. … Full article

Ambulance Team Targeted in Maaroub as Israeli Strikes Intensify Across Southern Lebanon

Al-Manar | May 29, 2026

An Israeli drone strike targeted a Civil Defense team affiliated with the Islamic Health Authority in the town of Maaroub early this morning while they were carrying out their duties, killing one paramedic and injuring several others. The attack comes amid a heavy wave of Israeli airstrikes and artillery shelling across southern Lebanon, particularly in the Nabatieh and Tyre regions.

According to our correspondent, Israeli warplanes launched a series of airstrikes targeting the city of Nabatieh and the towns of Kfar Remman, Nabatieh al-Fawqa, and the outskirts of Shoukin. Artillery shelling also struck the town of Kfarjouz and the outskirts of Qatrani.

Warplanes carried out two consecutive waves of airstrikes on Kfarjouz, as well as strikes on the area between the towns of Ain Qana and Jbaa, and the town of Mayfadoun. The town of Arnoun al-Shaqif was also subjected to artillery shelling. … Full article

Congress quietly moves to integrate US and Israeli militaries

By Ben Freeman | Responsible Statecraft | May 29, 2026

At a time when the American public is expressing unprecedented levels of distrust in the Israeli government, Congress just proposed tying the U.S. to the Israeli military more than ever before.

Buried in the House’s version of the 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) released on Tuesday, is section 224, entitled “United States-Israel Defense Technology Cooperation Initiative.” The provision would arguably do more to intertwine the U.S. military with the Israeli military than the more than $200 billion (inflation adjusted) in military assistance Israel has received from the U.S. since its founding in 1948.

Section 224 lays the groundwork for bilateral research and development, co-production of weapons, joint ventures, licensing agreements, and seemingly every manner of U.S.-Israeli military-industrial complex cooperation. The U.S. and Israel already work together heavily on missile defense, but this provision would greatly expand coordination to seemingly every area of defense tech, including AI, quantum, autonomous systems, directed energy, cyber, biotech, and many more. It also proposes “network integration” and “data fusion.” In other words, the U.S. military’s data could soon be the Israeli military’s data. … continue

Israel Relaunches, Rebrands Online Propaganda Campaign

By Harrison Berger | The American Conservative | May 21, 2026

Israel has relaunched and rebranded Act.IL, an online campaign originally designed by Israeli intelligence officials at the Ministry of Strategic Affairs to harass and intimidate American critics of Israel. Such operations are generally referred to as “troll farming,” though the forces behind Act.IL use softer, more highfalutin language.

Rebranded as RiseApp, the program is operated by Israel’s Reichman University (IDC Herzliya) and, according to the project’s website, aims to mobilize Act.IL’s existing database of more than 40,000 pro-Israel online operatives to counter what it describes as “antisemitism” and “misinformation.” … continue

German politician blasts ‘totalitarian madness’ of sanctions on pro-Palestinian journalist

RT | May 29, 2026

Germany’s implementation of EU sanctions against a pro-Palestinian journalist whom Brussels has accused of fueling discord on Russia’s behalf has descended into “totalitarian madness,” German opposition politician Sahra Wagenknecht has said.

Wagenknecht has called for financial restrictions imposed on Huseyin Dogru and his Berlin-based family to be lifted. On Tuesday, Dogru said Comdirect bank had frozen the assets of his elderly mother, citing what it described as a “control relationship over the funds by [her] son.” His wife’s bank account was targeted in March, while his father is reportedly under investigation by the authorities.

“This is how dictatorships treat opposition figures,” the left-wing BSW party founder told Berliner Zeitung on Thursday.

“The EU’s scandalous overreach against a German journalist and the German government’s complicity in breaking the law and collective punishment must finally stop,” she added. “If the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution were doing its job, this totalitarian government extremism would actually be a case for them.” … continue

Avoiding Catastrophic Failure in Cuba

SONAR21 | May 28, 2026

ALERT MEMORANDUM FOR: The President

FROM: Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity (VIPS)

SUBJECT: Avoiding Catastrophic Failure in Cuba

Continue

Iran shoots down trespassing US drone near Bushehr: Report

Press TV – May 28, 2026

Iranian forces have shot down an American drone violating the Islamic Republic’s airspace near the southern city of Bushehr, a report says a day after the servicemen turned away an American tanker trying to illegally cross the Strait of Hormuz.

Tasnim News Agency published the report on Thursday, citing a military source.

The source “confirmed the interception of a trespassing American drone in the vicinity of Bushehr,” the report read. … Full article

Russia warns US against sending more troops to its borders

RT | May 28, 2026

Russia has warned that deploying additional US troops near its borders would be “unacceptable,” after Washington pledged to send more soldiers to Poland.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said at a press briefing on Thursday that reducing the number of US personnel stationed in Europe would be a “rational, justified, and long-overdue” step toward stabilizing what she described as an “imbalanced” security situation created by NATO policies.

Deploying more American troops in the region, on the other hand, would place them within striking distance, Zakharova added.

She said such a move would only increase tensions in Europe and compel Russia to respond with “military-technical measures.” Zakharova accused NATO of pushing the continent toward a “suicidal” conflict. … continue

Dead Silence: UN, OSCE Ignore Russian Appeals Over Ukraine’s Slaughter at Starobelsk

Sputnik – 28.05.2026

MOSCOW – There has been no response from the UN, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), or other international organizations to Russia’s appeals regarding the Ukrainian strike on Starobelsk, Russian Human Rights Commissioner Yana Lantratova told Sputnik.

Lantratova previously reported that she had sent letters to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the OSCE Secretary General, the President of the UN Human Rights Council, and other international organizations regarding the Ukrainian strike on a college and dormitory in the Lugansk People’s Republic (LPR).

“We sent letters immediately after the tragedy occurred. We have not yet received any response. We are awaiting it, and hope for an objective assessment of these events by the international public… We hope for a response, and moreover, we will send [letters] to all our counterparts in various countries around the world so that people know the truth,” Lantratova said.

On May 22, Ukrainian forces attacked an academic building and a dormitory of the Starobelsk Professional College of Lugansk State Pedagogical University. Twenty-one people were killed and 44 others wounded.

Trump Administration’s DOJ Filing in Supreme Court ‘Sharp Betrayal’ of Religious Freedom

By Jefferey Jaxen | May 27, 2026

In a stunning reversal the Department of Justice under President Trump has filed a brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to deny review in John Doe et al. v. Kathy Hochul, No. 24-1015. The case involves former New York healthcare workers fired for refusing COVID-19 vaccination on religious grounds under the state’s now-repealed Section 2.61 mandate, which allowed medical exemptions but barred religious ones.

The move is in stark contrast to the COVID-era legal momentum across the board seeing courts rule in favor of employees fired for religious vaccine refusals. … continue

Ocean “Acidification” — Another Fake Scare That Won’t Go Away

By Francis Menton | Manhattan Contrarian | May 26, 2026

… my conclusion is that the whole “ocean acidification” thing is no more than an effort to play on the idea that people will find the word “acid” scary. – Read full article

The Weaponization of Gene-Edited Mosquitoes. Will It Save Lives?

By F. William Engdahl | Global Research | May 27, 2026

There are several dimensions to the mosquito crisis.

The release of gene-edited male mosquitoes, coupled with the development of a dengue and malaria vaccine.

But that is but the tip of the iceberg.

According to F. William Engdahl in 2018, the weaponization of insects is on the drawing board of the Pentagon… continue

The US Military Keeps Blowing Up Small Boats in the Caribbean and Pacific

By Adam Dick | Peace and Prosperity Blog | May 28, 2026

Suppose a Latin American nation’s military kept blowing up private American small boats in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean, killing nearly all the United States citizens on them in the process. The Donald Trump administration and a horde of US Congress members would be shouting about terrorism and supporting major responsive military actions. However, the actual perpetrator of the blowing up of small boats in the Caribbean and Pacific since early September has been the US government and the victims have been mainly residents of Latin American nations, so the destruction and killing just keeps going on with little pushback from politicians in Washington, DC.

At The Intercept, Nick Turse is keeping a tally of the ongoing slaughter at sea. He counts, relying on information derived from US government sources, 60 strikes killing 197 people. The number of survivors of the strikes is just six.

This is a killing spree, not an ordinary drug interdiction effort. … continue

A Nation of Suspects

By Andrew P. Napolitano | Ron Paul Institute | May 28, 2026

Some of the recent legal challenges to the use of surveillance by the Department of Homeland Security upon Americans have resulted in the revelation of truly terrifying behavior by the government, in direct defiance of the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution. We now know that the federal government spies on innocent Americans without suspicion and without warrants. … continue

Trump Administration Targets Americans Opposed to Zionism

Constitutionally protected speech critical of Israel may be considered incitement of violence

By Kurt Nimmo | Another Day in the Empire | May 28, 2026

Gabrielle Cuccia, a MAGA influencer and former chief Pentagon correspondent for One America News (OAN), was hired earlier this year to write a script for Vine & Fig Tree Institute (VFT), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization “that combats antisemitism and hate.” The image of “vine and fig tree” is mentioned several times in the Old Testament. References appear in Kings, Micha, and Isaiah.

“VFT is a pro-Israel organization with ties to the administration,” Cuccia posted to X on May 22. “Earlier this year, VFT was at the White House meeting with Sebastian Gorka.”

Shortly after that White House meeting, I was contacted through a third party and asked to script-write for VFT. The individual who contacted me is publicly very Christian and widely perceived as America First. I was told the script would be used to create an AI-generated video on behalf of the White House, specifically for NSC and Sebastian Gorka.

Zettawire characterizes VFT as a “pro-Israel nonprofit… [that has] conducted domestic surveillance on conservative voices from inside the White House, using AI propaganda.”

An investigative report alleges that pro-Israel nonprofit Vine & Fig Tree (VFT) runs a domestic surveillance and propaganda campaign targeting America First conservatives from inside the White House, using AI media and data operations, and that VFT recently met with NSC counterterror director Sebastian Gorka.

Gorka, as I pointed out in an earlier post, is deputy assistant to the president and senior director for counterterrorism. He said speech critical of the White House and Israel may be considered “incitement of violence under government standards” and linked to Iran and Russia.

Cuccia was told VFT worked covertly with the Trump administration and was provided with a link to a Dropbox account. “Inside the Dropbox were 7 folders,” she writes. “Through those documents, I learned more about what this organization actually does. Their reports monitor major conservative and ‘dissident-right’ accounts and frequently frame those accounts as vulnerable to, or participating in, foreign influence operations.”

The reports contain information on Nick Fuentes, Tucker Carlson, Candace Owens, Ian Carroll, Jackson Hinkle, Dan Bilzerian, Mario Nawfal, Joe Kent, and others. “In another report, they argue that distrust surrounding Charlie Kirk’s assassination was mostly due to Americans falling for Russian, Iranian, and Pakistani propaganda networks” Cuccia writes. ‘In another report, they argue that distrust surrounding Charlie Kirk’s assassination was mostly due to Americans falling for Russian, Iranian, and Pakistani propaganda networks.” … Full article

The Popular Scapegoats: How Israel Is Pushing Its New ‘Bad Apples’ Hasbara Strategy

By Robert Inlakesh | Palestine Chronicle | May 28, 2026

A revived attempt to scapegoat a handful of Israeli officials for the crimes of its entire regime structure has again taken off, especially in light of the recent diplomatic fallout over Israeli Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s public humiliation of Gaza aid flotilla activists. The idea behind this Hasbara campaign is to normalize Israel’s actions.

When Itamar Ben-Gvir posted the video of him mocking the brutal treatment that foreign activists were being subjected to – after being kidnapped in international waters – entitling it “welcome to Israel”, it understandably triggered a diplomatic firestorm. However, the Western leaders who summoned their envoys in response haven’t dared to address the treatment of the activists, including their own citizens, since.

All of this begs the question as to how much authenticity came along with these stances. One point of note is that even Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu joined in with the chorus of condemnation, as did his Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and others. Since that time, at least 15 activists who were part of the latest Global Sumud Flotilla have accused the Israeli military of committing different forms of sexual assault against them, including rape. … continue

Death toll of Israeli attack on Gaza City rises to 10, including children

Al Mayadeen | May 28, 2026

The Israeli aggression on a house in Gaza City on Thursday night has killed 10 people, including 4 children, according to Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in the Gaza Strip. […]

In response, the Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas published a statement condemning the massacre as “another crime committed by the fascist occupation army” and a renewed violation of the ceasefire agreement signed in Sharm el-Sheikh.

“The escalation by the criminal Zionist occupation government against civilians across the Gaza Strip indicates its attempt to return to the pace of ethnic cleansing,” the statement read. … Full article

Jewish Settlers attack Palestinian families east of Ramallah

Palestinian Information Center – May 28, 2026

RAMALLAH – A horde of extremist Jewish settlers attacked Palestinian families on Wednesday in the Khalayfa area east of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank.

Local activist Fares Kaabneh said that the settlers assaulted Palestinian families in the Khalayfa area near the village of Taybeh, east of Ramallah.

Kaabneh explained that the settlers deliberately brought herds of sheep and camels into the vicinity of residents’ homes, damaging property and destroying trees in the area.

He added that the settlers encircled Palestinian homes during their attack.

Israeli Airstrikes Kill Two in Sidon, Hit Multiple Southern Lebanon Sites

Al-Manar | May 28, 2026

Two people were martyred in a preliminary toll following an Israeli occupation airstrike that targeted a residential apartment in the Qiya’a area inside the city of Sidon, southern Lebanon. Rescue teams are still searching for people trapped under the rubble.

Our correspondent reported that Israeli warplanes also struck Deir al-zahrani with several airstrikes. Additional strikes targeted the town of Burj al-Shamali in the Tyre district, as well as multiple locations inside the city of Tyre: a building in the archaeological area, another in the Rifai neighborhood, and a third on Halwani Street.

In Adloun, an Israeli drone targeted a car on the Sidon-Tyre highway near the shrine of the Prophet Sari, according to the same source.

Israeli warplanes launched an airstrike on the Kfarjouz area in the Nabatieh district. In a related development, strikes also hit the town of Haboush, the city of Tyre (further attacks), the town of Kfar, Tell Ali al-Taher in the Nabatieh district, and the towns of Zghrine and Sajd in the Jezzine district. In the western Bekaa Valley, warplanes targeted the area surrounding Wadi Barghaz. … Full article

IRGC oversees safe passage of another 26 vessels through Hormuz in past 24 hours

Press TV – May 28, 2026

The Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) says 26 commercial ships and oil tankers have crossed the Strait of Hormuz over the past 24 hours after coordinating with its Navy, warning that any attempt to disrupt the strategic passage will prompt a “decisive response.”

In a statement issued on Thursday, the public relations office of the IRGC Navy said it is exercising “smart control” over the strait with “full authority,” emphasizing that all vessels must secure permission and coordinate with the naval force before transiting the vital corridor.

“Smart control of the Strait of Hormuz is being carried out with full authority, and during the past 24 hours, 26 commercial vessels and oil tankers passed through the secure corridor after obtaining permits and coordinating with the IRGC Navy,” the statement read.

The Navy reiterated that authorization and coordination are mandatory for transit.

“As previously announced, passage through other routes will be considered a disruption and will be dealt with accordingly,” it warned.

According to the statement, several ships attempted to enter the Persian Gulf illegally after disabling or manipulating their navigation systems, prompting IRGC intervention.

“Last night, several vessels attempted to enter the Persian Gulf illegally by manipulating or turning off their navigation systems. After several radio warnings, IRGC Navy fighters stopped two of them in place, while the others were forced to turn back,” it added. … Full article

IRGC targets US military base in response to attack on Bandar Abbas

 Al Mayadeen | May 28, 2026

Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a stern warning on Thursday following a US military violation and aggression near the Bandar Abbas Airport, stressing that any further aggression “will not go unanswered.”

In a statement released by its public relations office, the IRGC said the US military launched aerial projectiles at a location on the outskirts of Bandar Abbas before dawn. It added that Iran responded by targeting the US air base from which the attack originated at approximately 4:50 am.

The operation comes as a “serious warning,” the IRGC said, adding that the response was intended to demonstrate that any aggression against Iran would be met with retaliation, warning that any repeat attack would provoke “a more decisive response.” … continue

Iran condemns US aggression on Bandar Abbas, supports Oman

Al Mayadeen | May 28, 2026

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei condemned US military strikes targeting areas near Bandar Abbas in the early hours of Thursday, describing them as a “blatant violation” of international law and the United Nations Charter.

Baghaei said the attacks represented an act of aggression and stressed that the UN Security Council bears a legal responsibility to hold the United States accountable.

He also affirmed Iran’s determination to take “all necessary measures” to defend the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Tehran denounces US threats against regional states

The Iranian official additionally condemned threatening rhetoric by US officials directed at Iran and other countries in the region, expressing solidarity with Oman following remarks by US President Donald Trump concerning the Strait of Hormuz.

Baghaei stated that threatening to “destroy” a UN member state that has historically played a constructive and responsible regional role constitutes not only a violation of the principle prohibiting the threat or use of force, but also “another dangerous indication of the normalization of lawbreaking and bullying in international relations.” … Full article