US-Israel Iran War Live Updates

Details remain scarce regarding the composition of the Iranian delegation scheduled to attend high-stakes negotiations in Islamabad.
The framework for these discussions will reportedly be guided by a 10-point proposal Tehran had previously submitted to the US.
The talks are expected to be contentious, given the substantial disparities in the positions held by the two parties.
The Strait of Hormuz is likely to be a major point of contention, given its pivotal role in the global energy market.
Iran, which has seen its regional influence wane following recent Israeli strikes on Lebanese territory and elsewhere, is seeking to capitalize on the Strait’s strategic importance.
Iranian officials have hinted at the possibility of imposing tariffs on oil tankers and other vessels navigating the Strait of Hormuz.

Aerial bombardments by Israel have targeted the Lebanese towns of Al Shahabiya and Jabal Al Batm, according to eyewitness accounts from Al Jazeera’s correspondent on the ground.

Avichay Adraee, a high-ranking Israeli military official, has levelled a serious accusation against Hezbollah, alleging that the group has been utilizing ambulances for extensive military purposes.
In a recent social media post on X, Adraee emphasized that Israel will adhere to international law in countering any Hezbollah military activities, including the misuse of medical facilities and ambulances.
Notably, the Israeli military has yet to present any concrete evidence to substantiate this assertion.

A leading Israeli analyst and activist, Abed Abou Shhadeh, has expressed deep concerns over the implications of US-mediated talks between Israel and Lebanon. According to Abou Shhadeh, Israel’s participation in these negotiations is not driven by a genuine desire for diplomacy, but rather by a calculated strategy to exploit the situation for its own advantage.
Abou Shhadeh suggests that Israel’s true intention is to pursue a policy of “escalation through normalisation”, where it maintains a state of conflict in southern Lebanon while simultaneously engaging in talks with the Lebanese government. This approach, he argues, serves Israel’s interests by allowing it to continue its military presence in the region while also undermining the influence of Hezbollah.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has disclosed that his country has showcased its capabilities to several Middle Eastern nations in neutralizing Shahed drones launched by Iran, leveraging its expertise in interceptor technology and electronic warfare. Zelenskyy’s recent visit to the region came amidst a surge in missile and drone attacks from Iran, prompting Gulf countries to seek assistance. Ukraine’s experience in countering Shahed drones, which Tehran supplied to Russia, has proven invaluable in this context. According to Zelenskyy, Ukrainian military experts, including specialists in interceptor drones and electronic warfare, were dispatched to the Middle East, where they successfully demonstrated the effectiveness of interceptors in downing Iranian drones in multiple countries.

With its strategic position at the crossroads of global and regional politics, Pakistan has consistently demonstrated its ability to facilitate dialogue and cooperation between major world powers, including the United States, China, and key Gulf nations.
The country’s diplomatic prowess has been instrumental in shaping significant international events, such as Henry Kissinger’s clandestine visit to China, the landmark Geneva Accords, and the historic agreement between the US and the Taliban in Afghanistan.
For a deeper understanding of Pakistan’s role as a mediator, view the accompanying video.

Despite the absence of a formal ceasefire in Lebanon, a noticeable decrease in violence has been observed in the region.
Israeli forces have launched a series of aerial and artillery attacks in southern Lebanon, while Hezbollah has responded by firing rockets across the border and targeting Israeli troops within Lebanese territory.
In Beirut, there have been no Israeli strikes in the past 24 hours, following a significant escalation on Wednesday. The US administration is reportedly exerting pressure on Israel to accept a reduction in violence, if not a full ceasefire, in order to salvage a key deal with Iran.
However, Iran remains committed to ensuring the deal’s success, and is insisting that the Lebanese front be included in the agreement. The Lebanese government has extended an invitation to Israel for direct talks, a proposal that is highly contentious within the country.
The president’s condition that any talks be preceded by a ceasefire is likely to be a major obstacle to Israel’s participation, highlighting the complex and delicate nature of the negotiations. Many in Lebanon believe that the government lacks significant political influence and may be forced to accept negotiations, despite the ongoing violence.

In a thought-provoking analysis for Al Jazeera, Rami G Khouri, a respected public policy fellow at the American University of Beirut, posits that the recent two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran signifies a seismic shift in the global balance of power. Khouri contends that the conflict has unveiled unprecedented dynamics that are eroding the long-standing dominance of Western and Israeli influence in the region.

Khouri asserts that instead of finding a conventional exit strategy, Iran has effectively presented the US and Israel with a means of extrication, likening it to an emergency ejection seat. He underscores that the war has resulted in catastrophic damage to critical civilian infrastructure and has unequivocally invalidated the principles of international law regarding the protection of non-combatants.

Khouri emphasizes several critical aspects of the negotiations and their far-reaching consequences:
The author cautions that neglecting the historical legacy of colonial violence, suffering, and brutality in the Middle East would be a missed opportunity for justice, potentially paving the way for even more devastating local and global disasters.

Read Khouri’s full opinion piece here.

Maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz is experiencing a significant decline compared to its usual levels,
Iran is contemplating a transformative shift in its management of the strategic waterway, with a focus on implementing a selective approach that welcomes all nations while restricting access to adversaries. This new strategy is part of a broader vision for the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran aims to shape through a new regime. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has recently introduced a revised navigation map, outlining designated routes for vessels. Furthermore, Iran is exploring the possibility of imposing tariffs and fees on ships that transit through the Strait, a move that could have far-reaching implications for global trade.

In a recent military operation, Hezbollah claimed responsibility for launching a missile attack against a group of Israeli soldiers who were stationed east of the Khiam detention center in southern Lebanon.