US-Israel Iran War Live Updates

According to analyst Maria Sultan, Pakistan’s involvement in the crisis is a calculated response to pressing security and economic imperatives. As the chairperson and president of the South Asian Strategic Stability Institute University in Islamabad, Sultan emphasized the importance of progress in negotiations. “Our primary objective is to facilitate meaningful dialogue and bring key stakeholders to the table,” she explained to Al Jazeera.

Sultan highlighted Pakistan’s unique position as a geostrategic leader in regional talks. “No country is better positioned to appreciate the significance of the Indian Ocean, the Persian Gulf, and the Strait of Hormuz than Pakistan, which occupies a pivotal location at the mouth of the strait,” she noted. Without the free flow of trade, Sultan warned, reconstruction and rebuilding efforts would be severely hindered.

Pakistan’s approach, Sultan observed, is a delicate balance of security, economics, and politics. While security may be the foundation, economics is the driving force, and politics is the catalyst for progress.

Iranian Red Crescent Society President Pirhossein Kolivand revealed that a staggering 125,630 civilian establishments have been impacted nationwide as a result of US-Israeli strikes against Iran, according to a report by the IRNA news agency.

Anwar Gargash, a high-ranking diplomatic counselor to the UAE president, has announced that the country will undertake a meticulous examination of its international connections in response to recent aggression from Iran. This comprehensive review aims to reconfigure the UAE’s economic and financial systems, ensuring they remain robust and resilient. According to Gargash, this strategic reassessment will enable the UAE to identify reliable partners and chart a clear path forward, guided by a rational evaluation of national priorities.

Ahead of Saturday’s diplomatic meeting, Spain’s Foreign Minister, Jose Manuel Albares, expressed his hope that Iran would approach the negotiations with sincerity. During a conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Wednesday, Albares urged his counterpart to cease all missile and drone launches. Albares once more voiced his disapproval of Israel’s ongoing strikes against Lebanon, labeling the situation a “shame to humanity.” He emphasized that Israel’s actions, which include violating international law and humanitarian norms, are utterly unacceptable. Israel claims its military operations are aimed at the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group.

US Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, has shared a glimpse into his recent experience during the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, revealing that he resided in a command centre for an extended period. In a candid post, Huckabee described his living arrangements, which included sharing a single room with two dogs, utilising makeshift sleeping quarters, and relying on a microwave and hot plate for meals, all while facing significant mobility restrictions. However, with the ceasefire in place, Huckabee has now returned to his official residence.

A dire humanitarian situation is unfolding in Lebanon, where over one million people have been forced to flee their homes, and in just 48 hours, a staggering number of casualties have been reported, prompting a stark warning from the World Food Programme of “devastating humanitarian consequences”. According to Lebanon’s Health Ministry, at least 303 lives were lost and 1,150 people injured in Israeli attacks across the country on Wednesday, with a preliminary toll released on Thursday.

The World Food Programme, which has been on the ground since the beginning, has been providing vital food and cash assistance to hundreds of thousands of people, said Allison Oman Lawi, the agency’s country director for Lebanon. However, Oman Lawi emphasized that the UN agency requires “safe and sustained access” to continue its work. Without secure conditions and the ability to reach people in the most affected and hard-to-reach areas, the delivery of lifesaving assistance becomes increasingly challenging for families who depend on it.

A deadly Israeli drone assault has claimed the life of one individual in the Lebanese town of Sharqiyeh, where a motorcyclist was struck by the aerial strike in the region’s southern sector.

According to the Israeli military, a total of 40 Hezbollah combatants have lost their lives in southern Lebanon over the past seven days, while 50 critical infrastructure sites have been severely damaged.

A statement from the IDF revealed that the 91st Division had pinpointed a group of Hezbollah operatives in close proximity to Israeli troops earlier in the week. In the ensuing confrontation, one fighter who had taken shelter in a nearby undergrowth was fatally struck, and a vehicle carrying fleeing operatives was subsequently targeted.

UNICEF, the United Nations’ organization dedicated to children’s welfare, has sounded the alarm over the dire situation unfolding in Lebanon, where a surge in Israeli airstrikes has left an indelible mark on the country’s youth. The devastating effects of Tuesday’s bombardment are starkly evident, with a staggering 33 children losing their lives and 153 more suffering injuries in a matter of minutes.

The cumulative toll of violence in Lebanon since March 2 is nothing short of staggering, with approximately 600 children either killed or injured in the crossfire. The humanitarian crisis has displaced over one million people, including a staggering 390,000 children, many of whom have been forced to relocate multiple times. UNICEF reports that children have been rescued from rubble, while others remain unaccounted for, separated from their families and grappling with the trauma of losing loved ones and homes.

In a stark reminder of the international community’s obligations, UNICEF emphasizes that the protection of civilians, including children, is a fundamental principle of humanitarian law, one that must be upheld at all times.

The Indian government has expressed deep unease over the substantial loss of civilian life in Lebanon, resulting from Israeli military actions.

Indian Foreign Ministry official Randhir Jaiswal stated that India is deeply troubled by the unfolding situation, given its own commitment to the UN peacekeeping mission UNIFIL and its vested interest in maintaining peace and stability in Lebanon.

Jaiswal emphasized the importance of adhering to international norms and upholding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations.