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Iran: Data show partial restoration of internet connectivity
Iran: Data show partial restoration of internet connectivity
Jenipher Camino Gonzalez | Kieran Burke with Reuters, AFP, AP, dpaPublished 05/26/2026Published May 26, 2026last updated 05/27/2026last updated May 27, 2026Iran's vice president Mohammad Reza Aref said the government has taken the first steps to restore internet access. Meanwhile, Tehran warned US against "violation" of ceasefire. Follow DW.
https://p.dw.com/p/5EJEUWhat you need to know
- Iran has taken the first steps toward reopening the internet
- Tehran warned US against "violation" of ceasefire
- US top diplomat Marco Rubio said an Iran deal could 'take a few days'
- Rubio's comments come after US strikes were launched in southern Iran
This blog is now closed. Here is a roundup of the latest developments from the Iran war and the wider Middle East on Tuesday, May 26.
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Skip next section Lebanon says dozens dead in Israeli strikes05/27/2026May 27, 2026Lebanon says dozens dead in Israeli strikes
Lebanon's health ministry said Israeli strikes on the country's south killed 31 people on Tuesday. The victims reportedly included at least four children and three women, with 40 wounded. Fourteen others were killed in Burj al-Shamali near Tyre.
It all comes as Israel said it was intensifying attacks, despite still holding a ceasefire in its war with Hezbollah.
The Israeli military on Tuesday warned residents of the southern Lebanese city of Nabatieh to immediately evacuate ahead of expected strikes.
"For your safety, you must evacuate your homes immediately and move north of the Zahrani River. Anyone who is near Hezbollah members, facilities or military equipment is putting their life at risk!" the military's Arabic-language spokesman, Avichay Adraee, posted on X.
According to several local media outlets, Israeli ground troops reportedly carried out operations north of Lebanon's Litani River, some 30 kilometers (18 miles) north of the Israeli border.
The Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah said in a statement that its fighters repelled an Israeli force early Tuesday in an area that overlooks Nabatieh, following airstrikes and heavy artillery fire.
The group alleged that it had used drones and was fighting with Israeli soldiers in the town.
People in Lebanon hope for 'real' ceasefire
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https://p.dw.com/p/5EMwBSkip next section China urges US and Iran to 'stay committed' to peace05/26/2026May 26, 2026China urges US and Iran to 'stay committed' to peace
Saim Dušan Inayatullah EditorChina's Foreign Minister Wang Yi commented on the ongoing negotiations between the US and Iran, saying Beijing hoped parties in the conflict can continue to meet each other halfway.
"We hope that the parties concerned can stay committed to pursuing a ceasefire and continue to meet each other halfway, so that peace can return to the Middle East as early as possible," Wang told reporters at the UN in New York after chairing a meeting of the 15-member Security Council.
"As we have been saying, it takes more than one cold day to freeze three feet of ice, and long-standing issues cannot be resolved overnight," Wang said.
"However, every step forward in the negotiation brings more hope to peace, and one day earlier the conflict is ended means less civilian casualties," he added.
What's at stake for China as Iran war drags on?
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https://p.dw.com/p/5EMu9Skip next section Israel says attack targeted new Hamas leader05/26/2026May 26, 2026Israel says attack targeted new Hamas leader
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel had carried out an attack against the new chief of Hamas armed wing in Gaza. A joint statement issued by Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed that the attack.
"Under the direction of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz, the IDF has just carried out a strike in Gaza targeting Mohammed Odeh, the new commander of the military wing of the Hamas terrorist organisation and one of the architects of the October 7 massacre," the joint statement said.
Netanyahu and Katz said Odeh had "served as head of Hamas intelligence during the October 7 massacre and was appointed approximately one week ago as successor to Ezzedine Al-Haddad."
Odeh is said to have succeded Ezzedine Al-Haddad, the former chief of the Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades who was killed in a strike in Gaza earlier in May.
Although a ceasefire has been in place in Gaza since October, Israel reserves the right to attack any target it considers threatening.
Israel says Hamas armed wing chief killed
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https://p.dw.com/p/5EMmUSkip next section Tanker explosion reported off Oman coast05/26/2026May 26, 2026Tanker explosion reported off Oman coast
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said a tanker had reported an external explosion on the vessel's port side, close to the waterline, 60 nautical miles off Oman's capital Muscat.
UKMTO said the vessel and its crew were safe. The causes of the incident are unknown.
According to MarineTraffic vessel-tracking data, the vessel is a Greek-owned Very Large Crude Carrier, which was sailing past Oman's capital Muscat at around 0700 UTC. The ship reportedly was exiting out of the Gulf of Oman and was not carrying cargo.
Merchant sailors in Gulf caught in war's crossfire
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https://p.dw.com/p/5EMm8Skip next section Israel expands operation in Lebanon beyond 'Yellow Line'05/26/2026May 26, 2026Israel expands operation in Lebanon beyond 'Yellow Line'
Israeli forces have begun operating beyond what is known as the "Yellow Line" in south Lebanon, military sources confirmed to AFP and Reuters.
Israel and Hezbollah have continued to exchange fire on a near-daily basis despite a ceasefire in effect since April 17.
Israeli troops have until now been operating inside the self-declared "Yellow Line," where they have carried out large-scale demolitions since.
The "Yellow Line" is different from the UN demarcated "Blue Line" that marks the border between Lebanon and Israel after Israel's withdrawal in 2000.
The area that Israel is operating in runs around 10 kilometres (6 miles) deep inside Lebanese territory, a military official told AFP.
"The IDF is operating in a targeted manner beyond the Forward Defence Line in order to remove direct threats to the citizens of the State of Israel and IDF troops, in accordance with the directives of the political echelon," the military official said, adding that "specific details regarding soldiers' locations cannot be provided."
The move comes after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday that the army would intensify strikes against the Iran-backed militant group
Israel escalates operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon
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https://p.dw.com/p/5EMGPSkip next section Iran begins reopening internet, vice president says05/26/2026May 26, 2026Iran begins reopening internet, vice president says
Iran's vice president Mohammad Reza Aref said the government has taken the first steps to restore internet access.
The announcement comes after a near-total blackout has been in place in Iran since war with the US and Israel broke out in late February.
Iranian state media had reported yesterday that President Masoud Pezeshkian issued an order to reopen international internet access.
"The first step toward free and regulated access to cyberspace has been taken," the Iranian vice president said in a post on X, adding that the demands of Iranians "will be fulfilled."
According to a post on X by the internet monitoring group Netblocks, live data showed partial restoration of internet connectivity in Iran.
Iran's internet shutdown draws condemnation from abroad
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https://p.dw.com/p/5ELxvSkip next section Iran warns US against 'violation' of ceasefire05/26/2026May 26, 2026Iran warns US against 'violation' of ceasefire
Iran said that air defenses had responded to US military with Iranian news agencies reporting that a US drone had been shot down.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned against any US violation of the ceasefire agreement and said it had the right to retaliate.
Meanwhile, Iran's Foreign Ministry accused the US of "continuing its illegal and unjustified actions since the ceasefire."
The ministry said that "in the past 48 hours, committed a gross violation of the ceasefire in the Hormozgan region."
US Central Command (CENTCOM) said missile sites and boats were targeted in southern Iran on Monday, describing the action as "self-defense strikes" aimed at protecting US military personnel.
CENTCOM said the targeted vessels were trying to lay mines in the Gulf.
https://p.dw.com/p/5ELJaSkip next section Iran executes man over cooperation with Israel's Mossad05/26/2026May 26, 2026Iran executes man over cooperation with Israel's Mossad
Dmytro Hubenko EditorA man had been hanged in Iran after being convicted of cooperating with and carrying out espionage for Israel's intelligence agency.
"Gholamreza Khani Shakarab was executed on charges of intelligence cooperation and espionage in favour of the Zionist regime," the Iranian judiciary's Mizan Online website reported.
Tuesday's execution is the latest in a series carried out by the Islamic Republic for security-related offenses since the war with Israel and the United States began on February 28.
The man was from the Iranian city of Ardabil and had been living in Turkey. He was arrested by Iranian security forces whilst travelling in Iraq.
The Norway-based human rights group Hengaw said he had been denied access to a lawyer of his choosing and criticized the lack of transparency in the judicial process.
Hengaw also said the man’s brother is imprisoned in Iran.
Hidden executions surge in Iran during US-Israeli war
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https://p.dw.com/p/5EL3XSkip next section Lebanon state media reports at least 12 killed in Israeli strikesPublished 05/26/2026Published May 26, 2026last updated 05/26/2026last updated May 26, 2026Lebanon state media reports at least 12 killed in Israeli strikes
At least 12 people have been killed in Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon, according to state media.
State-run news agency National News Agency reported that the attacks took place late on Monday in the Bekaa Valley.
The reported strikes come after Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had authorized intensified strikes targeting Hezbollah targets across Lebanon.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) didn't comment specifically on this latest report but said that it was targeting Hezbollah infrastructure in the eastern parts of the country.
The strikes come just days before delegations from Israel and Lebanon are due to meet for direct talks in Washington.
Israel and Hezbollah have carried out strikes on one another repeatedly despite a ceasefire that came into effect on April 17.
Its not clear whether negotiations between Iran and the US over ending the war will include Lebanon.
https://p.dw.com/p/5EK0ySkip next section Rubio says Iran deal still possible despite new strikes05/26/2026May 26, 2026Rubio says Iran deal still possible despite new strikes
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that a deal with Tehran remained within reach despite the US military launching new strikes on Iran.
"There were some talks going on in Qatar today, so we'll see if we can make progress," Rubio told reporters during an official visit to India.
"I think it's a lot of talking back and forth going on about specific language in the initial document, so it'll take a few days," he added. "The president's expressed his desire to make it. He's either going to make a good deal or no deal."
Rubio said the Strait of Hormuz was "going to be open one way or the other," adding: "What's happening there is unlawful, it's illegal, it's unsustainable for the world, it's unacceptable."
An Iranian blockade of the vital shipping channel has strangled global fuel supplies and caused oil prices to rocket.
Rubio’s statement came shortly after the US military’s Central Command announced that it had launched "self-defense" strikes against Iran, with targets including missile launch sites and boats laying mines.
Iran and Trump talk down hopes of imminent deal
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https://p.dw.com/p/5EJGbSkip next section US says in southern Iran were 'self-defense' Published 05/26/2026Published May 26, 2026last updated 05/26/2026last updated May 26, 2026US says in southern Iran were 'self-defense'
The US military said it had carried out "self-defense" strikes in southern Iran, including on missile launch sites and boats placing mines.
The strikes were done "to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces," but the military was "using restraint during the ongoing ceasefire," Captain Tim Hawkins, US Central Command spokesman, said in a statement.
Further details were not immediately available.
It was not immediately clear how these strikes would impact ongoing talks between the two sides amid a ceasefire that has been in place since April 8.
There were fluctuations to the price of oil on Tuesday but it remained below $100 (€85.90) per barrel.
https://p.dw.com/p/5EJHKSkip next section Welcome to our coveragePublished 05/26/2026Published May 26, 2026last updated 05/26/2026last updated May 26, 2026
Welcome to our coverage
We're tracking the latest US strikes in southern Iran, which the US military said was necessary to protect US troops from the threats posed by Iranian forces.
Despite the new strikes, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio believes an agreement with Iran is still possible, although he expects it to take a few days.
The latest actions threaten a ceasefire between the US and Iran that began on April 8. The war has caused significant disruptions to the global economy with a severe blocking of energy flows.
DW will bring you the latest developments from the region. Thank you for joining us.
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