Israeli strikes kill 8 people south of Beirut: Lebanon health ministry

This live blog follows updates for Day 75 of the US-Israel war on Iran. For a recap of Day 74, go here.

• Australia says will join France, UK mission in Hormuz
• Saudi crown prince, UAE president review latest regional developments 
• South Korea  to review phased participation in US Hormuz initiative
• US President Trump claims ‘not long’ before Iran war ends

• Trump to suspend US gas tax as Iran war spikes prices

Asian stocks mixed on US-Iran impasse, AI setbacks
Published: May 13, 2026 | 10:29 GMT | by AFP

Asian stocks were mixed on Wednesday as markets digested the lack of progress towards Middle East peace and setbacks that rattled the boom in AI technology.

Iran's chief negotiator said on Tuesday that Washington must accept Tehran's latest peace plan or face failure, after US President Donald Trump warned the truce in the Middle East war was on the brink of collapse.

Both sides have refused to make concessions and repeatedly threatened to resume fighting, but neither appears willing to return to all-out war.

Traders are now looking to China, where Trump is due to land on Wednesday, the first visit by a US president in nearly a decade, saying he expected a "long talk" with counterpart Xi Jinping about Iran.

Trump's expected arrival in Beijing comes a day after figures back home in the United States showed consumer inflation hit a three-year high in April, as the economic fallout of the Iran war rippled through the world's largest economy.

Soaring inflation will pile pressure on Trump to end the war, which is deeply unpopular with the American public, but he insisted on Tuesday that Americans' financial situation did not motivate him "even a little bit" to make a peace deal with Iran.

The US president said he would ask Xi to "open up" China to American firms, adding that AI chip titan Nvidia's chief Jensen Huang was among a host of top CEOs joining the trip.

Palestinians say West Bank teen killed by Israeli fire
Published: May 13, 2026 | 10:37 GMT | by AFP

Palestinian health officials said a teenager was killed by Israeli fire in a West Bank village on Wednesday, the latest in a series of violent incidents shaking the Israeli-occupied territory.

The health ministry in Ramallah identified the victim as 16-year-old Yusef Ali Kaabnah, saying he was "killed by occupation bullets" near the town of Jiljilya, north of Ramallah.

The Palestinian Red Crescent said he had been shot in the chest during a raid by Israeli settlers who were accompanied by Israeli troops.

Four others were injured in the incident, it added.

The Israeli military told AFP it was looking into the incident.

Israeli strikes kill 8 people south of Beirut: Lebanon health ministry
Published: May 13, 2026 | 9:40 GMT | by AFP

Israeli strikes targeting cars on a highway south of Beirut on Wednesday killed eight people, including two children, Lebanon's health ministry said, in the latest attacks despite a ceasefire since Israel started its bombardment.

In a statement, the ministry said "the three raids carried out by the Israeli enemy on the Saida-South coastal highway – specifically in Barja, Jiyeh and Saadiyat – resulted in 8 martyrs, including two children".

European shares rise despite stalled US-Iran talks
Published: May 13, 2026 | 08:40 GMT | by Web Desk

European shares rose on Wednesday after recovering from a sharp decline, as oil prices eased despite continued uncertainty over stalled US-Iran negotiations, Al Jazeera reported.

The pan-European STOXX 600 index gained 0.7% to 611.06 points by 07:03 GMT after closing 1% lower a day earlier. Germany’s DAX rose 0.7% while Spain’s IBEX 35 added 0.6%.

“Concerns over supply disruptions and uncertainty surrounding the Middle East are keeping oil prices well-supported even as traders struggle to establish a clear direction,” Priyanka Sachdeva, senior market analyst at Phillip Nova, said.

Nations drawing down oil stocks at record pace: IEA

Published: May 13, 2026 | 08:40 GMT | by AFP

Countries are tapping into oil inventories and strategic reserves at a "record pace" due to supply disruption during the Middle East war, the International Energy Agency said Wednesday.

Global stocks were drawn down by a further 117 million barrels in April, the agency said in its monthly report, after a 129 million barrel drawdown in March.

"Rapidly shrinking buffers amid continued disruptions may herald future price spikes ahead," it said.

Israeli strike targets car on highway south of Beirut: Lebanon state media

Published: May 13, 2026 | 07:17 GMT | by AFP

An Israeli strike targeted a car Wednesday on a major highway linking Beirut to southern Lebanon, state media reported, despite a truce in the war between Israel and Hezbollah.

The attack took place in the Jiyeh area, about 20 kilometres (12 miles) south of the capital, Lebanon's National News Agency said. On Saturday, two similar strikes targeted two cars on the same highway.

Chinese supertanker reported to be transiting Strait of Hormuz

Published: May 13, 2026 | 05:55 GMT | by Web Desk

Chinese crude oil supertanker, Yuan Hua Hu, is reportedly sailing out of the Gulf region, marking a rare crossing through the Strait of Hormuz, Al Jazeera reported, citing ship-tracking monitors.

Ship-tracking data shows the supertanker moving through the volatile waterway on Wednesday morning.

According to the reports, the vessel passed Iran’s Lark Island on the eastern side of the strait while heading south away from Hormuz.

UAE, US presidents discuss latest developments in Mideast 

Published: May 13, 2026 | 02:12 GMT | by Web Desk

UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan held a phone conversation with US President Donald Trump, during which they discussed strategic cooperation and explored ways to further strengthen UAE-US ties in support of shared interests, according to the Emirates News Agency on Wednesday.

The two leaders also exchanged views on the latest developments in the Middle East, it said.

Australia says will join France, UK mission in Hormuz

Published: May 13, 2026 | 01:50 GMT | by AFP

Australia will join a "strictly defensive" mission led by France and Britain to secure shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, defense minister Richard Marles said Wednesday.

"Australia stands ready to support an independent and strictly defensive Multinational Military Mission, led by the United Kingdom and France, once it is established," Marles said in a statement.

A multinational military mission is designed to complement diplomatic engagement and de-escalation efforts, while "demonstrating a tangible commitment to the security of international trade", he said.

Saudi crown prince, UAE president review latest regional developments 

Published: May 13, 2026 | 01:13 GMT | by Web Desk

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman made a phone call to UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, during which they discussed areas of bilateral cooperation, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.

They further reviewed the latest regional developments and ongoing efforts to enhance security and stability in the region, it said.

South Korea  to review phased participation in US Hormuz initiative

Published: May 13, 2026 | 00:26 GMT | by Web Desk

Defense Minister of South Korea Ahn Gyu-back has told his US counterpart Pete Hegseth that the country is reviewing phased contributions to the US-led initiative in the Strait of Hormuz, Al Jazeera reported, citing Yonhap news agency.

The South Korean defense minister and the US secretary of defense held bilateral talks at the Pentagon earlier this week.

US President Trump claims ‘not long’ before Iran war ends

Published: May 12, 2026 | 20:35 GMT | by AFP/Web Desk

Leaving Washington on Tuesday for a trip delayed by his war, US President Trump said he expected a "long talk" with counterpart Xi Jinping about Iran, according to AFP.

But he also downplayed disagreements over Iran, saying that Xi has been "relatively good, to be honest with you."

"I don't think we need any help with Iran. We'll win it one way or the other. We'll win it peacefully or otherwise," Trump told reporters as he left the White House. 

“As soon as this war is over, which will not be long, you’re going to see oil prices drop and you’re going to see a stock market … go through the roof,” President Trump told reporters, according to Al Jazeera.