US-Israel Iran War Live Updates

Fu Cong, China’s representative to the United Nations, has underscored his country’s disapproval of granting member states carte blanche to employ force in the Middle East, warning that such authorization would effectively condone the unbridled and indiscriminate use of force.

Israeli authorities have reported a missile launch from Yemen, marking the fourth instance of such an attack since the commencement of the conflict. Israel’s Home Front Command issued an early warning after detecting the missile’s launch, prompting alerts in the majority of Israeli cities. Sirens blared in several areas, including Jerusalem and the Dead Sea region, according to Channel 14.

Despite expressions of mild solidarity from various nations following Israeli aggression against Lebanon, the issue of accountability for the atrocities committed has largely taken a backseat in media coverage of the conflict.
A significant factor contributing to this oversight is that Lebanese officials have yet to fully explore the international legal options available to them, including the possibility of joining the International Criminal Court, which could provide a crucial platform for addressing the suffering of Lebanese citizens.

In a dramatic diplomatic fallout, Argentina has ordered the immediate departure of Tehran’s top envoy, Mohsen Soltani Tehrani, within a 48-hour timeframe. This move comes in response to what Argentina’s foreign ministry has branded as “misleading, inflammatory, and unsubstantiated claims” made by Iran against the South American nation. The decision was taken two days after Argentina, under the leadership of President Javier Milei, a close ally of the US and Israel, formally designated Iran’s IRGC as a “terrorist entity”. Milei’s administration has been vocal in its support for the recent US-Israeli strikes on Iranian targets. In a strongly worded statement, Iran’s Foreign Ministry accused Argentina of “taking sides with the aggressors” and violating international law. Argentina’s foreign ministry cited this statement, along with Iran’s alleged “persistent refusal” to cooperate with the ongoing investigation into the 1994 AMIA bombing, as justification for the expulsion. The devastating car bombing on July 18, 1994, claimed the lives of 85 people and left over 300 injured, making it Argentina’s deadliest terrorist attack to date.

Iraqi security sources have revealed that a drone assault has struck the US diplomatic and logistics hub within Baghdad’s international airport compound, according to information provided by AFP news agency. The airport compound, which also accommodates an Iraqi military base, was the site of the attack.

The Indian government has announced a cap on the maximum monthly rise in aviation turbine fuel prices for domestic flights, limiting the increase to 25 percent. In a related development, the government acknowledged that private airlines were experiencing difficulties in securing sufficient auto liquified petroleum gas (LPG) due to procurement issues, and is urging dual-feed autos to opt for petrol whenever feasible.

According to Russia’s state-run TASS news agency, Yuri Ushakov, a key advisor to President Putin, has confirmed that the Strait of Hormuz remains accessible to Russian vessels.

Amid an ongoing Iranian blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, the UK is facilitating a virtual conference with approximately 40 nations to explore collective solutions for unblocking the critical waterway. The strait serves as a primary shipping route for 20 percent of the world’s oil and LNG supplies from Gulf producers during times of peace.

Iran, whose territorial waters encompass a significant portion of the strait, has effectively severed access to the waterway since hostilities against Iran commenced on February 28. The resulting blockade has driven global oil prices above $100 per barrel, representing a surge of roughly 40 percent from pre-war levels. This drastic increase has prompted countries, particularly in Asia, to implement fuel rationing and scale back industrial production.

Notably, the US has opted out of these talks, following a statement from Trump that the responsibility for reopening the strait lies with European nations. He advised them to “secure their own oil supplies.”

A Palestinian man lost his life following a fatal confrontation with Israeli soldiers in the vicinity of Khan Younis, according to reports from the Wafa news agency, which detailed the circumstances surrounding his untimely demise.

A collective warning from over 100 US-based international law specialists has been issued regarding the ongoing conflict, citing deep-seated concerns over the possible infringement of international law.

According to a letter published by the Just Security Forum and endorsed by prominent academics, former government attorneys, and military legal specialists, the US military’s involvement in the war has raised significant red flags about potential breaches of international human rights law and humanitarian law, potentially even amounting to war crimes.

The letter draws attention to the mounting toll on civilians, environmental degradation, and escalating regional instability, underscoring the US role in the conflict. The experts have also taken issue with US officials’ talking points that prioritise military effectiveness over adherence to international norms, warning that such an approach could undermine global safeguards designed to protect civilians.

Critically, the letter expresses dismay over recent statements from senior US government officials labelling the rules governing military engagement as “outdated” and prioritising “deadliness” over “legality,” describing these remarks as profoundly disturbing and woefully shortsighted.