LiveLive Updates May 19, 2026Share to FacebookShare to XArticle printing is available to subscribers onlyPrint in a simple, ad-free formatSubscribeComments: Zen reading is available to subscribers onlyAd-free and in a comfortable reading formatSubscribeMay 19, 2026UpdatesVance: U.S., Iran making 'a lot of progress' in talks, no desire for renewed warU.S. Vice ‌President JD Vance said on ⁠Tuesday the ⁠United States and Iran have made a lot of progress in ‌their talks ‌and neither side wants to see a resumption of the military campaign.U.S. Vice President JD Vance speaks to reporters during a during a press briefing at the White House, Tuesday, in Washington. Credit: Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP U.S. Vice President JD Vance speaks to reporters during a during a press briefing at the White House, Tuesday, in Washington. Credit: Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP "We think that we've ⁠made a lot of progress. We ‌think ⁠the Iranians ‌want to make a deal," Vance told ⁠reporters at a White House briefing. IDF says officer killed in southern Lebanon in clashes with Hezbollah operatives The Israeli military announced the death of Major (res.) Itamar Sapir, 27, who was killed in clashes with Hezbollah operatives while scanning buildings in a village in southern Lebanon.Major (res.) Itamar Sapir Credit: IDF Spokesperson's UnitMajor (res.) Itamar SapirCredit: IDF Spokesperson's UnitSapir was born in the West Bank settlement of Eli and lived in the settlement of Ariel, where he studied electrical engineering at the city's university. He is survived by his wife, Roi, and their son, Maayan, who is 18 months old.As of Tuesday, 21 soldiers have been killed as part of Israel's war with Hezbollah. Sapir served as a deputy company commander in the IDF's 551 Brigade.Prosecutors agree to cancel Netanyahu's trial hearing over security considerationsThe prosecution in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's corruption trial agreed to his legal team's request to cancel the trial's Wednesday hearing due to a security and diplomatic considerations.The prosecution said it "does not oppose the motion in light of the explanation provided in the bureau and in the sealed envelope" attached to the request.Somaliland says it will open an embassy in Jerusalem, Israel to reciprocateSomaliland, a breakaway region of ⁠Somalia, will set ‌up an embassy in Jerusalem soon, its ambassador said on ‌Tuesday, after Israel became the first country to formally recognize the ⁠self-declared republic.In turn, Israel is expected to set up an ⁠embassy in Somaliland's capital, Hargeisa, Ambassador Mohamed Hagi said in a post on X.Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar said on Tuesday that the opening of the ⁠embassy in Jerusalem would be another significant step in strengthening relations with Somaliland. Once opened, the Somaliland embassy would be the eighth ‌embassy in Jerusalem, he said.4 hours agoU.S. says it is imposing sanctions against four people linked to Gaza flotillaThe ‌United States ⁠is ⁠imposing sanctions against four people associated ‌with ‌a flotilla trying to access Gaza, ⁠the Treasury said ‌in ⁠a ‌statement on Tuesday.The Treasury's Office said it "is taking action against four individuals associated with the pro-Hamas flotilla organized by the U.S.-designated Popular Conference for Palestinians Abroad that is attempting to access Gaza in support of Hamas."The office also said it is "taking action against key actors operating within Hamas-aligned Muslim Brotherhood networks. Hamas relies on a diverse web of international partners to expand its malign political influence, facilitate violent terrorist activity, and undermine international efforts to achieve lasting peace in Gaza," the office said. The four figures were named as Saif Abu Keshek, Hisham Abu Mahfuz, Mohammed Khatib and Jaldia Abu Bakra Aueda "The pro-terror flotilla attempting to reach Gaza is a ludicrous attempt to undermine President Trump's successful progress toward lasting peace in the region," said Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent. "Treasury will continue to sever Hamas' global financial support networks, no matter where in the world they are."RECAP: Israel reportedly detains hundreds of Gaza flotilla activists; 3,042 killed in Lebanon since March, Health Ministry saysHere are Tuesday's updates from the U.S.-Iran cease-fire and Israel's war with Hezbollah:■ Hundreds of activists on board the Gaza aid flotilla were detained by Israeli forces and are being taken to an Israeli port, the flotilla's organizers said. An Israeli court also ruled that 11 vessels previously intercepted from the flotilla must be transferred to the State of Israel.■ The Lebanese Health Ministry said that 3,042 people were killed and 9,301 wounded since the current round of fighting with Israel began in March.■ Israeli forces "kidnapped" three people near the villages of Kfar Hamam and Kfar Shouba in southern Lebanon, a Lebanese defense source told Al Jazeera, after previous reports that Israeli forces had set up a roadblock in the area.■ The IDF attacked watermelon farmers in the southern Lebanese village of Mansouri with three white phosphorus munitions, the Lebanese National News Agency reported. No injuries were reported.■ Israel's attorney general charged Likud MK Tally Gotliv for disclosing classified information when she revealed the identity of a Shin Bet officer. ■ The Knesset advanced a bill that would weaken the powers of the attorney general and give ministers greater control over legal representation and criminal prosecutions. Opposition lawmakers boycotted the vote in protest.■ Several Gulf states said they were unaware of U.S. President Donald Trump's planned attack on Iran on Tuesday, after the president said he had postponed the strike at the Gulf state's request, official sources told the Wall Street Journal. ■ U.S. President Donald Trump said Iran is "begging to make a deal," but threatened that the U.S. may "have to give them another big hit." Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that U.S. economic sanctions imposed on Iran amounted to "a financial stranglehold on the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism."Potential NATO mission in Strait of Hormuz is political decision, top commander saysTop NATO ‌commander Alexus Grynkewich said ⁠on Tuesday ⁠that a potential mission of the military alliance in the ‌strait of ‌Hormuz would be a political decision."The conditions under which NATO would consider operating in the ⁠Strait of Hormuz are ultimately ‌a ⁠political ‌decision," Grynkewich said, speaking in Brussels where ⁠he met with military chiefs from NATO ‌countries4 hours agoTrump says Iran wants deal with U.S., but threatens 'another big hit' U.S. President Donald Trump, speaking to reporters on Tuesday, said Iran is "begging to make a deal," but threatened that the U.S. may "have to give them another big hit." Trump: "They're begging to make a deal. I hope we don't have to do the war, but we may have to give them another big hit. We may have to give them another big hit. You'll know very soon.""You'll know very soon," he said, adding that he was "an hour away" from striking Iran on Monday. Read the full articleIsraeli court orders transfer of 11 Gaza aid flotilla ships to Israel for confiscation An Israeli court ruled that 11 vessels that were intercepted during a raid on the Global Sumud Flotilla in October must be transferred to the State of Israel.The Haifa District Court sided with state prosecutors, who argued that the vessel's owners had not responded to the confiscation request.The Global Sumud Flotilla has repeatedly tried to reach the Gaza Strip, in violation of Israel's naval blockade imposed on the enclave. The State Attorney's office said, "The vessels attempted to breach the maritime blockade as part of a large-scale flotilla. The request was filed in accordance with international law and the Naval Prize Act, which grants the state the authority to seize and confiscate vessels attempting to violate a lawful maritime blockade."U.S. sanctions disrupt 'hundreds of billions' of dollars of illicit Iranian cashflows, Treasury Secretary saysU.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that U.S. economic sanctions imposed on Iran amounted to "a financial stranglehold on the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism.""We have disrupted tens of billions in the regime's projected oil revenue," Bessent said at a conference titled "No Money for Terror.""We have taken actions to freeze nearly half a billion in regime-linked cryptocurrency, and disrupted hundreds of billions in Iran's illicit financial flows," the secretary continued. "And we have intensified our crackdown on Tehran's shadow banking networks," he added."As the regime confronts the wreckage of its military, Treasury will remain relentless in our pursuit to constrict the network of vessels, intermediaries, and buyers through which Iran exports both its oil and malevolence."In the NewsIsraeli Reservist Killed in Clash With Hezbollah in Southern Lebanon, IDF SaysJ Street Isn't Out of Touch With American Jews, but Israel's Settler Right IsSmotrich Threatens to Clear West Bank Village Over ICC Arrest Warrant RequestJewish Groups Denounce Fatal Shooting at U.S. Mosque, Call for Security FundingThey Were Children During the Nakba. 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