US-Israel Iran War Live Updates

A joint briefing by US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is scheduled to take place at 8am local time on Wednesday, where they will provide insights into the military operation codenamed “Operation Epic Fury” as part of the post-ceasefire developments.

An Iran-aligned coalition of armed factions in Iraq has declared its intention to halt military activities in Iraq and beyond for a two-week period, in response to the declaration of a ceasefire between the United States and Iran.

Oil markets have responded positively to the recent ceasefire declaration between Iran and the US, with prices experiencing a notable decline, according to Alex Holmes, an expert from the Economist Intelligence Unit, who spoke with Al Jazeera. However, it’s crucial to exercise caution when assessing the likelihood of the ceasefire’s success, as uncertainty still prevails.

Holmes emphasized that a key indicator of the ceasefire’s durability will be the reactions of key stakeholders, including Israel, Iran, and other parties involved. He noted that significant progress is required in negotiations to alleviate market concerns, keeping investors in a wait-and-see mode.

Although oil prices have decreased, they remain significantly higher than their levels in late February. US crude futures dropped by approximately 16 percent to $94.59 per barrel, while Brent futures also declined by 15 percent to $92.35 per barrel, as reported by Reuters. In Asia, the Nikkei index in Japan surged by around 5 percent, while South Korea’s Kospi index rose by 6 percent, prompting a temporary trading halt.

In a statement, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt hailed the ceasefire as a resounding triumph for the United States, crediting President Trump and the US military for their pivotal role in securing the agreement. According to Leavitt, Trump’s initial projection of a four-to-six-week conflict was surpassed when the US achieved its core military objectives in just 38 days.

Leavitt emphasized that the military’s impressive success created a powerful bargaining position, enabling Trump and his team to engage in tough negotiations that ultimately yielded a breakthrough for a diplomatic solution and long-term peace. Furthermore, she noted that President Trump successfully secured the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Leavitt’s remarks followed a statement from Iran’s National Security Council, which revealed that the two-week ceasefire was agreed upon due to the near attainment of almost all war objectives. The council also announced that Iran would engage in talks in Islamabad, with the aim of solidifying its battlefield victories through political negotiations.

Thousands of Iranian mourners are anticipated to gather in the streets of the country on Wednesday to observe the 40th day since the passing of the nation’s former Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was tragically taken from life in a US-Israeli aerial assault on Tehran in the initial hours of February 28. The joint US-Israeli military operation against Iran was underway at the time of the attack. This 40th day milestone holds profound spiritual importance in Iranian culture. Following Khamenei’s death, his son, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, has assumed the role of Iran’s Supreme Leader. The commemoration of Ayatollah Khamenei’s death coincides with the recent announcement of a two-week ceasefire agreement between the US and Iran.

At least seven fatalities have been confirmed in a wave of strikes that swept across Iraq, with two minors among the victims, according to official reports. The US and Iran subsequently announced a temporary ceasefire agreement on Tuesday evening.

Thaer al-Salhi, a Basra provincial council member, recounted eyewitness accounts of a residential bombing in Khor Al-Zubair. “A plane targeted a dwelling in the city, leaving a trail of devastation,” he stated to the AFP news agency.

Neighbours of the affected household claimed that five individuals resided there, comprising three males, a female, and a juvenile. However, only three bodies have been recovered thus far. A security official corroborated the reports, stating that missile strikes on a Khor Al-Zubair residence resulted in the deaths of three civilians.

Later on Tuesday, a projectile crashed into a Baghdad home, sparking a fire and claiming the lives of two more individuals, including an eight-year-old child, a police source disclosed to AFP.

In the Kurdish region of northern Iraq, a drone originating from Iran reportedly crashed into a residence, killing a married couple, according to local authorities who reported the incident early Tuesday.

According to Alan Eyre, a seasoned diplomatic expert at the Middle East Institute in Washington DC, President Trump’s decision to call off military action against Iran likely stems from a growing awareness of the devastating economic repercussions of war and Iran’s strategic control over the Strait of Hormuz. Eyre suggests that Trump may have come to the realisation that it’s essential to “declare victory and move on” from the conflict.

Eyre expressed relief that Trump did not follow through on his earlier, more drastic threats to Iran, which he described as “cataclysmic.” He believes that the temporary ceasefire will eventually take hold, although he cautioned that ongoing strikes, particularly those carried out by Israel against Lebanon, could persist in the short term.

Eyre noted that Israel has a history of violating ceasefires, but he does not anticipate significant consequences unless the attacks on Lebanon escalate in the coming days. He attributed Israel’s actions in Lebanon to distinct strategic objectives that have yet to be fulfilled, which differ from their goals in Iran.

Eyre cited President Trump’s directive to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to halt military action as a key factor in Israel’s decision to comply. However, he also suggested that Israel will continue to pursue its objectives in Lebanon, albeit with a more measured approach.

US Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has reiterated her demand for President Trump’s impeachment, stating that his recent announcement of a temporary ceasefire with Iran has no bearing on the situation.
The Democrat expressed her concerns in a social media post, citing the Republican president’s threat of genocide against the Iranian people as a major concern.
Ocasio-Cortez emphasized that the nation’s safety and global stability are at risk, and that Trump must be held accountable for his actions.
“We cannot afford to gamble with the world’s security and our country’s well-being any longer,” she said, adding that Trump’s removal from office is imperative, whether through his Cabinet or Congress.
Ocasio-Cortez’s stance aligns with that of dozens of Democratic lawmakers who have previously called for Trump’s removal from office due to his aggressive rhetoric towards Iran.

Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has hailed the US-Iran ceasefire as a pivotal moment that demands swift action to create space for meaningful dialogue and diplomatic engagement. In a Facebook statement, the ministry emphasized the need for a robust commitment to halting military operations and upholding the principles of unimpeded international navigation.

Despite the persistence of Israeli attacks in Lebanon, there are indications that a ceasefire might be imminent, as hinted by the Pakistani prime minister’s statement. However, the immediate outcome remains uncertain. Since President Trump’s announcement roughly an hour and a half ago, at least two Israeli air strikes have been reported in the country. One of these strikes occurred in the city of Tyre, striking a location near a hospital, while another targeted the town of Machghara in the Bekaa Valley. Currently, a low-flying Israeli drone is audible over the capital, Beirut.