US-Israel Iran War Live Updates

A recent social media post from the official Rewards for Justice programme of the US Department of State has gone out on the X platform, seeking assistance in gathering information about a series of attacks on key US facilities in Iraq. The targeted sites include the US Embassy in Baghdad, the Baghdad Diplomatic Support Centre, and the US Consulate General in Erbil, situated within Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdish region. In exchange for credible intelligence, the programme is offering a substantial $3 million reward, specifically aimed at identifying Iran-aligned armed groups and other perpetrators behind these incidents.

In a collaborative effort, the leadership of the International Energy Agency, International Monetary Fund, and World Bank will establish a joint coordination group to effectively address the far-reaching energy and economic repercussions of the conflict in Iran, as outlined in a joint declaration from the international entities.

The newly formed coordination group will conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the war’s effects on various nations, facilitate a unified response, and mobilize key stakeholders to provide vital support to countries requiring assistance, according to the international organizations.

French naval commander Admiral Nicolas Vaujour expressed concerns that China’s current involvement in navigating the Strait of Hormuz may not be sufficient to restore normal maritime traffic, as he spoke at the War & Peace security conference in Paris. According to Vaujour, China’s naval presence has been noticeably absent in efforts to reopen the strait, despite ongoing diplomatic talks between Chinese and Iranian authorities to facilitate the passage of a limited number of vessels. Vaujour believes that this approach may not be enough to fully restore normal traffic flows, prompting him to suggest that China should take a more direct and assertive role in the debate to address the ongoing crisis.

A collective outcry from 15 European foreign ministers, representing countries such as Belgium, Ireland, Spain, and Italy, has been voiced in a unified statement condemning the intensifying conflict in Lebanon and its devastating humanitarian impact. The situation is dire, with approximately 1.2 million individuals forced to flee their homes, accounting for roughly 25 percent of the population.

According to the ministers, over 1,000 lives have been lost, with the vast majority being innocent civilians, including children, aid workers, and journalists, as per the Health Ministry of Lebanon’s latest reports. The European diplomats have strongly criticized Hezbollah’s decision to launch an attack on Israel in support of Iran and are calling for the group to immediately halt all hostile actions against Israel and disarm, in line with relevant UN Security Council resolutions.

This escalation follows the US-Israel conflict with Iran, which spilled over into Lebanon after Iran-aligned Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel in response to the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on February 28. Notably, Hezbollah had not engaged in hostilities with Israel since a ceasefire took effect in November 2024, despite repeated Israeli breaches of the agreement.

Iranian officials have categorically dismissed reports of any overtures to the US president or a request for a ceasefire, insisting instead that their objective is a far-reaching peace agreement that would bring an end to the conflict.
Over the past few weeks, Tehran has been subjected to multiple aerial assaults, including two recent strikes in the city’s eastern districts.
Simultaneously, various regions across the country have been targeted throughout the day, with further attacks unfolding in the capital overnight.
One notable incident occurred earlier in the morning near the site of the former US embassy in Tehran, underscoring the widespread nature of the strikes.

A joint declaration by foreign ministers from 15 European nations has shed more light on their stance on the ongoing conflict in the region.
The European diplomats reaffirmed their backing for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) as it carries out its mandate, and expressed outrage over the attacks on UNIFIL contingents that resulted in the tragic loss of Indonesian peacekeepers’ lives.
The ministers emphasized the need for all parties to uphold the November 2024 ceasefire and fully implement UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which was adopted in 2006 to bring an end to the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.
In a call to action, the European diplomats urged Israel to seize the opportunity for direct negotiations with the Lebanese government, as proposed by the latter.
The European ministers stressed that fostering stability in Lebanon is crucial to achieving lasting peace and security in the Middle East, and that a swift de-escalation of tensions is imperative.

Reports of loud booms echoing through various areas of Dubai have been attributed to successful interceptions carried out by local authorities, according to official statements.

For those who have just tuned in, here’s a quick rundown of what’s been happening:

Observing the Israeli government’s current trajectory, it’s clear they aim to inflict maximum harm on Iran before the impending deadline set by Donald Trump to conclude the conflict. With the initial goal of ousting the Iranian regime and installing a more favorable administration having faltered and unlikely to succeed, Israel is now prioritizing preventing Iran from rebounding. The underlying assumption is that if the war concludes and Iran struggles to regain stability, the resulting turmoil could be advantageous for Israel, as long as Iran remains in disarray.

A senior official from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’s Khatam al-Anbiya headquarters has publicly asserted the ineffectiveness of US and Israeli military forces in the face of Iran-aligned armed groups operating in the area. According to a statement carried by Fars news agency, the official’s comments reflect the perceived vulnerability of these foreign forces.