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Israel hits Beirut's suburbs in retaliatory attack against Hezbollah

U.S.-brokered ceasefire was renewed last week. In a [post](https://x.com/IsraeliPM/status/2063611126680584352) on X, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the attack in the Dahieh district of Beirut,, saying

U.S. and Iran exchange strikes. And, House passes ICE and Border Patrol funding

news you need to start your day.* ### Today's top stories **The U.S. conducted strikes on Iran last night after an American helicopter was downed** near the Strait of Hormuz on Monday. President Trump blamed

Iran war has cost $25B, Pentagon says. And, SCOTUS strikes blow to Voting Rights Act

strikes blow to Voting Rights Act *Good morning. You're reading the Up First newsletter.*[Subscribe](https://www.npr.org/newsletter/news)*here to get it delivered to your inbox, and*[listen](https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510318/up-first/)*to the Up First podcast

Drone strikes UAE nuclear plant highlighting risk of renewed war

News Agency/via AP DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — A drone strike sparked a fire on the edge of the United Arab Emirates' sole nuclear power plant on Sunday in what authorities called an "unprovoked terrorist attack

4 states head to the polls. And, global conflicts are on the rise, new report says

news you need to start your day.* ### Today's top stories **Israel and Iran committed yesterday to stop attacking each other,** just hours after exchanging missile fire and heightening tensions across the Middle East. Even

Uncertainty over the Strait of Hormuz remains, as ceasefire nears its end

news related to Iran just prior to landing at Joint Base Andrews. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1024x683+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F95%2F9f%2Fe40ec65f42bbad8ad2570e1746e7%2Fgettyimages-2271863466.jpg) U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to members of the press aboard Air Force

Peace talks in doubt as U.S. seizes Iranian ship

U.S. seizure of the Touska, according to the Associated Press, expressing concern over "the forcible interception" and calling for a resumption of peace talks. China is heavily reliant on Iranian oil imports. --- ## Death toll

European countries emerge as NATO leaders as U.S. role recedes

strikes on Iran — as well as his subsequent call for the alliance to assist in reopening the Strait of Hormuz — has inflamed tensions that had been simmering for months over the president's threats

Trump doubts shooter motivated by Iran war as peace talks on hold

news on the war in the Middle East: ### **Iran war mediator sends message to Trump** Numerous heads of state and officials sent well-wishes to Trump after the correspondent's dinner shooting incident. Among them

U.S. attempt to open Strait of Hormuz tests fragile Iran war ceasefire

strikes against the UAE. Saudi's condemnation, in a statement from its foreign ministry, called on Iran "to cease these attacks, comply with the principles of international law and relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions

Takeaways from Tuesday's primaries. And, victims of mosque shooting revealed

news you need to start your day.* ### Today's top stories **Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky yesterday lost the Republican House primary** by [nearly 10 percentage points](https://www.npr.org/2026/05/19/nx-s1-5827183/massie-gallrein-kentucky-race-results-trump). Trump-backed challenger Ed Gallrein

Trump says he's called off Iran strike at request of Gulf allies

military "to be prepared to go forward with a full, large scale assault of Iran, on a moment's notice, in the event that an acceptable Deal is not reached." Trump said he was calling

Deadlock over Iran's nuclear program and the Strait of Hormuz cripples peace efforts

military officials who were killed during the U.S.-Israel campaign, at the Tehran University campus, in Tehran, Iran, Friday, April 24, 2026. **Vahid Salemi/AP** Vahid Salemi/AP U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio signaled that efforts

Iran war: What is happening on day 52 of the US-Israeli conflict?

U.S. Embassy in Islamabad Natalie A. Baker, right, look on, as he prepares to board Air Force Two](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/AP26102106215354-1775964819.jpg?w=770&resize=770%2C513&quality=80) Vice President JD Vance led the US delegation for the first round of talks

Mediators push to extend U.S.-Iran ceasefire

strikes, according to Lebanese health officials. Hezbollah has also fired into Israel, killing at least 12 soldiers and two civilians, according to Israeli health authorities. Fighting between Israel and Lebanon began just days after

GOP races to fund immigration enforcement. And, U.S. indicts former Cuban president

news you need to start your day.* ### Today's top stories **Republicans in Congress are racing to approve $72 billion in funding for** Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Patrol through the rest

Israel says Iran launched a missile at it, in a first during fragile ceasefire

military said it was working on intercepting the missiles but "the defense is not hermetic," adding that sirens sounded in several areas of the country. Tehran had warned of retaliation after Israel on Sunday struck

India to Iran: How two wars shaped the rise of Pakistan’s Asim Munir

News Agency)/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS PICTURE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. BEST QUALITY AVAILABLE.](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/2026-04-17T130028Z_294873935_RC21RKARANDC_RTRMADP_3_IRAN-CRISIS-IRAN-PAKISTAN-1776858336.jpg?w=770&resize=770%2C513&quality=80) Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf meets Asim Munir, in Tehran, Iran, April

Putin says Russia will bolster air defenses in response to Ukrainian drone attacks

news agencies on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum at the Constantine Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia, on Thursday, June 4, 2026. **Dmitri Lovetsky/AP Photo, Pool** Dmitri Lovetsky/AP Photo, Pool "What

WHCA dinner shooter charged. And, Charles III to address Congress

news you need to start your day.* ### Today's top stories **Federal prosecutors have charged Cole Allen, the alleged gunman at the White House Correspondents' Dinner,** with attempting to assassinate President Trump. Allen made