Middle East War Day 63: US approves arms sales to Qatar, latest developments at a glance
On day 63 of the Middle East war, the US approved major arms sales to Qatar and Israel and announced troop withdrawal from Germany. Iran, while open to negotiations, rejected accepting policies under threat.
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- 📰 Published: May 2, 2026 at 13:16
- 🔍 Collected: May 2, 2026 at 13:31 (15 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 2, 2026 at 13:37 (5 min after Collected)
PARIS (CNA) — As the US and Israel jointly attack Iran for the 63rd day, Washington has approved major arms sales to Qatar and Israel and announced its troop withdrawal from Germany. Meanwhile, Iran stated its openness to negotiations but refused to accept "imposed" policies under threat.
Below is a summary of the latest situation in the Middle East war compiled by Agence France-Presse.
●US and Israeli Movements
The United States stated that it has approved the sale of USD 4 billion worth of Patriot missiles to its Persian Gulf ally Qatar, and nearly USD 1 billion worth of precision weapon systems to Israel.
In a series of notifications to Congress, the US State Department stated that these two arms sales are considered to support US "foreign policy and national security" goals amidst the ongoing Middle East conflict.
The Pentagon stated that US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has ordered the withdrawal of approximately 5,000 soldiers from Germany within the next year.
This follows President Trump's threat this week to withdraw troops from NATO ally Germany after a dispute with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz over the US-Israel war against Iran.
Trump told senior US congressional leaders that hostilities with Iran have ended. This comes after he faced pressure from Congress to seek war authorization as the conflict entered its third month.
Trump stated that he was dissatisfied with Iran's new peace negotiation proposal. The official Iranian News Agency (IRNA) reported that this proposal was delivered through mediator Pakistan. Details of the proposal have not yet been publicly disclosed.
A US official stated that the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier has left the Middle East after participating in operations against Iran. Two other aircraft carriers, USS Abraham Lincoln and USS George H.W. Bush, remain in the Middle East with 20 other US warships.
●Iranian Movements
Local media reported that 14 soldiers were killed today in Zanjan province, northwestern Iran, during an operation to dismantle unexploded ordnance.
Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei urged the people to wage economic war and "disappoint the enemy," as the war with the US and Israel and years of sanctions are taking a heavy toll.
Mojtaba Khamenei then called for "prioritizing the consumption of domestically produced goods" through a written statement, and stated that "owners of damaged businesses should avoid layoffs and dismissals as much as possible."
Iran's hardline judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei stated that Tehran is open to negotiations with the US but will not accept what he called "imposed" policies under threat.
Ejei said in a video broadcast on the judiciary's "Mizan Online" website: "The Islamic Republic has never shied away from negotiations... but we certainly do not accept imposition."
●Oil Prices, Stock Market, and Exchange Rate Movements
Oil prices fell after reports of Iran's latest negotiation proposal, but West Texas Intermediate (WTI) and another major US benchmark Brent crude both recovered some losses, trading steadily above the symbolic USD 100 per barrel mark.
●Other Countries and Organizations
Lebanon's Ministry of Health stated that Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon today killed 13 people, including in a town where Israeli forces had issued evacuation orders despite a ceasefire agreement.
UNHCR stated that the war has caused a surge in freight rates for humanitarian aid to refugees in the Middle East and Africa.
UNHCR pointed out that costs have risen by nearly 18% due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and port congestion causing cargo rerouting, leading to delivery delays. (Translator: Li Pei-shan) 1150502
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Below is a summary of the latest situation in the Middle East war compiled by Agence France-Presse.
●US and Israeli Movements
The United States stated that it has approved the sale of USD 4 billion worth of Patriot missiles to its Persian Gulf ally Qatar, and nearly USD 1 billion worth of precision weapon systems to Israel.
In a series of notifications to Congress, the US State Department stated that these two arms sales are considered to support US "foreign policy and national security" goals amidst the ongoing Middle East conflict.
The Pentagon stated that US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has ordered the withdrawal of approximately 5,000 soldiers from Germany within the next year.
This follows President Trump's threat this week to withdraw troops from NATO ally Germany after a dispute with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz over the US-Israel war against Iran.
Trump told senior US congressional leaders that hostilities with Iran have ended. This comes after he faced pressure from Congress to seek war authorization as the conflict entered its third month.
Trump stated that he was dissatisfied with Iran's new peace negotiation proposal. The official Iranian News Agency (IRNA) reported that this proposal was delivered through mediator Pakistan. Details of the proposal have not yet been publicly disclosed.
A US official stated that the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier has left the Middle East after participating in operations against Iran. Two other aircraft carriers, USS Abraham Lincoln and USS George H.W. Bush, remain in the Middle East with 20 other US warships.
●Iranian Movements
Local media reported that 14 soldiers were killed today in Zanjan province, northwestern Iran, during an operation to dismantle unexploded ordnance.
Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei urged the people to wage economic war and "disappoint the enemy," as the war with the US and Israel and years of sanctions are taking a heavy toll.
Mojtaba Khamenei then called for "prioritizing the consumption of domestically produced goods" through a written statement, and stated that "owners of damaged businesses should avoid layoffs and dismissals as much as possible."
Iran's hardline judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei stated that Tehran is open to negotiations with the US but will not accept what he called "imposed" policies under threat.
Ejei said in a video broadcast on the judiciary's "Mizan Online" website: "The Islamic Republic has never shied away from negotiations... but we certainly do not accept imposition."
●Oil Prices, Stock Market, and Exchange Rate Movements
Oil prices fell after reports of Iran's latest negotiation proposal, but West Texas Intermediate (WTI) and another major US benchmark Brent crude both recovered some losses, trading steadily above the symbolic USD 100 per barrel mark.
●Other Countries and Organizations
Lebanon's Ministry of Health stated that Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon today killed 13 people, including in a town where Israeli forces had issued evacuation orders despite a ceasefire agreement.
UNHCR stated that the war has caused a surge in freight rates for humanitarian aid to refugees in the Middle East and Africa.
UNHCR pointed out that costs have risen by nearly 18% due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and port congestion causing cargo rerouting, leading to delivery delays. (Translator: Li Pei-shan) 1150502
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship is a force to protect press freedom
Download CNA's "Firsthand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news
The text, images, and audio-visual content on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized without authorization.