US-Israel Iran War Live Updates

A synagogue in the heart of Tehran has been hit by a projectile allegedly launched by US-Israeli forces, according to a report from Iran’s semi-official Mehr News Agency. The news outlet shared a disturbing 12-second video on Telegram, showcasing rescue efforts amidst the devastation, as well as damaged books and scattered rubble. Notably, a significant Jewish community has thrived in Iran for millennia, with approximately 20,000 Jews still residing there, as documented by the Minority Rights Group.

A statement released by US Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees military operations in the Middle East and is spearheading the campaign against Iran, revealed that American forces have successfully engaged more than 13,000 Iranian targets. According to CENTCOM’s social media update, the operation has also resulted in the impairment or destruction of over 155 Iranian vessels. The US military’s involvement in Operation Epic Fury includes nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and submarines, as well as a diverse array of aircraft, including F-35 stealth fighter jets and B-52 bombers.

Tensions in the Middle East are casting a shadow over global markets, with oil prices hovering near $110 per barrel as investors anxiously await the outcome of US President Donald Trump’s Tuesday deadline for Iran to restore access to the Strait of Hormuz, or risk facing retaliatory strikes on critical infrastructure, including power plants and bridges.
As the clock ticks down, investors and traders are growing increasingly uneasy, with Brent crude futures edging up 0.4 percent to $110.19 a barrel and US West Texas Intermediate crude futures climbing 0.8 percent to $113.31.
Meanwhile, Japan’s Nikkei 225 index saw its early gains evaporate, trading 0.2 percent lower, while South Korea’s Kosdaq was down 0.75 percent by 02:20 GMT on Tuesday, and Singapore’s Straits Times Index had slipped 0.22 percent by 02:30 GMT.

The growing chorus of US Congress members opposing President Trump’s threatened military escalation against Iran has reached another prominent voice.
Arizona Democratic Senator Mark Kelly, a decorated Naval pilot and former NASA astronaut, voiced his concerns over the president’s threat to strike Iran’s power plants, bridges, and other non-military sites, which he believes would tarnish the US military’s reputation.
Kelly emphasized that targeting such infrastructure would be a sign of weakness rather than strength, as it would undermine the principles of the laws of armed conflict.
He stressed that America’s leadership is built on values of strength, discipline, and professionalism, and that issuing orders to harm civilians would be a stain on the country’s and military’s integrity.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has confirmed that a phone call is in the process of being arranged between herself and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. This announcement comes after a second Japanese national was released from detention in Iran, a development that follows the individual’s detention since January. In a parliamentary address, Takaichi explained that her government is actively pursuing communication with both the US and Iran, with a particular emphasis on securing phone calls with the leaders of these countries. The Japanese Prime Minister’s comments were made in the wake of a phone conversation between Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, during which Tokyo reiterated its stance that an immediate de-escalation of the situation is crucial.

In a poignant display of defiance, a Lebanese girl has rung a church bell in a powerful gesture of solidarity with her community, countering Israel’s reported warning to Druze and Christian leaders in southern Lebanon not to provide shelter to their Shia Muslim neighbours amidst the ongoing conflict.

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has expressed concern over US President Donald Trump’s recent warnings of potential attacks on Iranian civilian infrastructure, deeming them counterproductive to resolving the conflict.
According to Luxon, such actions would only serve to escalate the situation, and he believes a more measured approach is necessary to prevent further expansion of the conflict.
Luxon made his comments to Radio New Zealand, stating that any military actions targeting civilian infrastructure, such as bridges and reservoirs, would be utterly unacceptable.
He emphasized the need for a focus on de-escalation, rather than further military intervention, in order to prevent the conflict from spiraling out of control.

In a pre-dawn social media declaration, Hezbollah asserted responsibility for unleashing a barrage of rockets against the Israeli towns of Metula and Kfar Yuval, situated in the country’s north.

According to recent developments, a Japanese national who had been held in Iran for an extended period has been granted freedom after months of detention.
Although the individual, identified as the Tehran bureau chief for Japan’s NHK public broadcaster, has been released, he is currently unable to leave the country due to an outstanding security-related charge.
Sources within the Japanese government have informed Kyodo news agency that the journalist is anticipated to face trial in Iran.
Japanese government spokesperson Minoru Kihara stated in Tokyo on Tuesday that the second Japanese citizen was released on bail by Iranian authorities the previous day.
In a separate incident, a fellow Japanese citizen who had been detained in Iran was released and permitted to return to Japan on March 22, marking a significant development just last month.

In a bold display of defiance, Iranian musician Ali Ghamsari has embarked on a sit-in protest outside Iran’s Damavand power plant, a move that comes as US President Donald Trump escalates threats to target the country’s civilian infrastructure, including energy facilities and bridges.