US-Israel Iran War Live Updates

Amidst the global spotlight on the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, the Israeli military and settler groups are persisting with their assaults throughout the occupied West Bank, despite the relative lack of international attention on this issue.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced that two French nationals, Cecile Kohler and Jacques Paris, who had been imprisoned in Iran for over three years, are now free to leave the country. Macron made the statement on X, revealing that the pair, who had been accused of spying despite their families’ denials, are on their way back to France. Macron expressed gratitude to the Omani authorities for facilitating their release. Kohler and Paris were initially arrested in May 2022 while visiting Iran, prompting France to condemn their detention as baseless and unjustified. Following their release from prison late last year, they had been residing in French diplomatic premises in Tehran.

According to David Des Roches, a seasoned US Defense Department veteran, President Trump’s stance on Iran has been marked by a volatile seesaw, veering wildly between a willingness to engage in talks and a vow to annihilate the country.

Des Roches observed to Al Jazeera that Iran’s actions demonstrate a predictable pattern: when faced with an insurmountable situation, any rational entity will react accordingly. “The Iranian response has been characterised by a deliberate targeting of non-combatant states and civilian vessels navigating international waters, rather than the forces responsible for the aggression against Iran,” he noted.

This calculated approach, Des Roches believes, has left Trump at a loss for how to respond effectively.

The US president’s latest remarks have catapulted tensions to a fever pitch, with language that transcends conventional military threats. By labeling Iran an existential threat, Trump has dramatically escalated the stakes, effectively painting a dire picture of an entire nation’s survival. Those familiar with Iran’s vast landscape and infrastructure are well aware that any attempt to cripple the country would necessitate an enormous display of military might. In a striking shift from his previous vow to target power plants, bridges, and energy sites, Trump now appears to be hinting at a far more catastrophic outcome. His ominous warning on Truth Social, “A whole civilisation will die tonight,” has sparked alarm, while his accompanying sense of resignation – “I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will” – has raised questions about his willingness to take responsibility for the consequences. Trump’s words have taken on a tone of inevitability, implying that he is merely a spectator to events that are unfolding, and that Iran’s actions will dictate the course of events, with the 8pm deadline for opening the Strait of Hormuz serving as a critical juncture.

In a scathing rebuke, Marjorie Taylor Greene, a former congresswoman who once fervently supported Donald Trump, has publicly denounced the US president’s latest inflammatory remarks targeting Iran. Greene, who has since distanced herself from Trump, expressed outrage over his threat to annihilate an entire civilization, labeling it an “evil and mad” move. In a post on X, she also urged the invocation of the 25th Amendment to remove Trump from office. This call to action echoes sentiments shared by Democratic lawmakers, who have similarly advocated for the 25th Amendment in response to Trump’s threats to destroy Iran’s critical infrastructure, including bridges and power plants – actions that would constitute war crimes.

In a recent development, Saudi Arabia’s air defences successfully took down four unmanned aerial vehicles, bringing an end to a series of aerial threats in the region.

Behind-the-scenes negotiations to facilitate a dialogue between the United States and Iran continue unabated, according to two Pakistani sources privy to the discussions, as tensions escalate with Iran facing mounting pressure from US-led strikes and an impending deadline set by President Donald Trump.

A wave of missile and drone attacks originating from Iran and Hezbollah has triggered air raid sirens in various regions of northern and southern Israel, as per reports from local media outlets.
Israeli news source Arutz Sheva confirmed that a missile launched by Iran was successfully intercepted before it could reach the southern Negev region.
Fortunately, there have been no reported injuries or fatalities so far.

Confirming reports of US military action, Vice President JD Vance stated that the recent strikes on Iran’s Kharg Island were focused on military objectives, steering clear of oil facilities and infrastructure. He emphasized that these targeted operations do not signify a shift in the country’s military strategy. According to Vance, the US had intended to strike specific military targets on the island, which he believes has been accomplished. He also clarified that the US will refrain from targeting energy and infrastructure until Iran presents a proposal that aligns with American interests or, conversely, fails to do so. Vance reassured that the recent action on Kharg Island does not represent a change in the US President’s strategy.

According to reports from Israeli emergency responders, a direct impact has been confirmed in Kiryat Shmona, a city situated in the northern region of Israel. Haaretz, a prominent Israeli newspaper, has provided this information.

It has been stated that there have been no reported casualties resulting from the incident. Concurrently, air raid sirens are being activated in the Negev region, which is situated near the border with the Gaza Strip, as a result of an Iranian missile attack, as per Haaretz’s reports.