HEADLINES
US to Withdraw 5,000 Troops From Germany
UAE Bans Travel to Iran, Lebanon, Iraq
US Clears $8.6B Arms for Israel, Qatar

The time is now 5:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In US Military Role, Europeans must take greater responsibility for their own security, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said on Saturday in response to the announcement of US plans to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany. He said Germany is on the right track, pointing to the expansion of its Bundeswehr armed forces, greater and faster procurement of equipment and the construction of infrastructure. The Pentagon announced on Friday that the US would withdraw 5,000 military personnel from NATO ally Germany. Pistorius put the current number of US troops stationed in Germany at “almost 40,000.” In response to heavy criticism from Washington over defence spending, European NATO members have pledged to take on more responsibility for their own defence. But with tight budgets and vast military capability gaps it will take years for the region to meet its own security needs. “The presence of American soldiers in Europe, and especially in Germany, is in our interest and in the interest of the United States,” Pistorius said. Still, it was foreseeable that the US would withdraw troops from Europe, including Germany, he added.

In Regional Impacts, the United Arab Emirates on Thursday barred its citizens from traveling to Iran, Lebanon, and Iraq and urged Emiratis already in those countries to leave immediately, citing regional unrest and the need to protect nationals abroad. The ban is part of precautionary measures taken amid ongoing tensions across the Middle East. The ministry called on Emiratis in Iran, Lebanon, and Iraq to return to the UAE as soon as possible and to follow official travel guidance. Authorities also instructed UAE citizens in Iran, Lebanon, and Iraq to contact the ministry through its emergency line (+971 800 44444) for assistance. The ministry said it was continuing to monitor conditions affecting Emiratis overseas. The decision comes during a period of heightened regional volatility involving Iran, Hezbollah in Lebanon, Iraq-based armed groups, and wider Gulf security concerns. Iran, Lebanon, and Iraq all sit at the center of these tensions.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, the Lebanese LBC channel drew anger from Hezbollah supporters on social networks after publishing a video based on Angry Birds, in which the voice of Naim Qassem, Hezbollah’s secretary-general, is heard calling: no surrender.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, the United States urged Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to meet directly with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying a US-facilitated meeting could help secure an Israeli military withdrawal from southern Lebanon and restore Lebanese state control there. The US Embassy in Beirut said Lebanon stood “at a crossroads,” adding that direct engagement with Israel “can mark the beginning of a national revival.” The embassy said a direct meeting between President Aoun and Prime Minister Netanyahu, facilitated by US President Donald Trump, would give Lebanon the chance to secure concrete guarantees on full sovereignty, territorial integrity, secure borders, humanitarian and reconstruction support, and the complete restoration of Lebanese state authority over every inch of its territory - guaranteed by the United States. The statement also said that Lebanon stood “at a crossroads,” adding that direct engagement with Israel “can mark the beginning of a national revival.” The United States also announced that it was pressing Beirut and Jerusalem to move toward a more durable security arrangement beyond a fragile ceasefire with Hezbollah.

US clears advanced rocket systems for Israel, Qatar in $8.6B arms package. State Department clears parallel sales of 10,000 laser-guided APKWS systems to Israel and Qatar, part of a multi-billion regional arms package that also includes Patriot missiles for Doha.

Thank you for tuning in to this Israel Today: Ongoing War Report update.
I'm Noa Levi. Stay safe and informed.
Keep in mind that this AI-generated report may contain occasional inaccuracies, so consult multiple sources for a comprehensive view. Find the code and more details in the podcast description.

SOURCES
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/05/us-troop-drawback-underlines-european-defence-responsibility-german-minister-says
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-894873
https://t.me/abualiexpress/121513
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-894872
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/bka00pmxrwl