US-Israel Iran War Live Updates

Despite a recent ceasefire agreement, many Iranians remain on edge, fearing the conflict with Israel and the US may not be entirely over. A university student, who wished to remain anonymous, shared a hopeful sentiment with the AP news agency via a WhatsApp audio note. “It’s given them a new lease on life,” he said, describing the collective mood in Tehran. However, he acknowledged that the city has suffered significant damage and that the threat of renewed fighting looms large.

A local photographer, Maryam Saeedpoor, who resides in downtown Tehran, attempted to cope with the bombardment by taking up painting. However, she was unable to continue due to the trauma she experienced, her hand shaking uncontrollably as she tried to create. Saeedpoor expressed concern that the strikes have caused irreparable harm to the country’s industries and infrastructure, which had helped Iran weather decades of international sanctions. “Tehran, in my eyes, is a city of unparalleled beauty,” she said via WhatsApp, “but its current state is one of unrelenting sorrow and anguish.” Saeedpoor also lamented the loss of innocent lives, stating that the intended targets were government leaders, but the reality is far more devastating.

In a meeting with Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer reaffirmed his government’s stance against Iranian aggression targeting the State of Qatar, as reported by the Qatari Amiri Diwan.
Starmer’s condemnation of the attacks underscores the UK’s commitment to safeguarding Qatar’s sovereignty, security, and stability, according to an official statement.
The leaders of the two nations welcomed the US-Iran ceasefire, emphasizing the significance of de-escalating tensions and bolstering regional stability.
In their joint statement, they emphasized the need for collaborative efforts with the international community to achieve a lasting peace agreement, one that ensures regional security, maintains supply chain stability, and preserves the uninterrupted flow of global energy through the Strait of Hormuz, ultimately contributing to global peace and security.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has instructed his cabinet to initiate ceasefire negotiations with Lebanon at the earliest opportunity. This decision comes in response to repeated appeals from Beirut for direct talks. According to a statement issued by Netanyahu on X on Thursday, the move is aimed at bringing an end to the ongoing exchange of fire between Israeli forces and Hezbollah. The development follows warnings from analysts that the escalating violence could jeopardize the planned peace talks scheduled to take place in Pakistan on Saturday. Meanwhile, both the Israeli and Lebanese governments have expressed a willingness to engage in peace negotiations, although Israel’s continued bombardment of Lebanon has raised doubts among analysts regarding its true intentions.

Reports from Al Jazeera Arabic indicate that Israeli military operations have resulted in airstrikes on the town of al-Tayri in southern Lebanon and the town of Sahmar in the western Bekaa region of eastern Lebanon.

A recent Israeli air strike on the town of Deir Qanoun Ras al-Ain in southern Lebanon has resulted in the targeting of multiple ambulances and firetrucks, according to the Lebanon-based National News Agency (NNA). This development comes as part of a broader pattern of alleged threats made by the Israeli military against ambulances in Lebanon, with the military accusing Hezbollah of utilizing these vehicles for military purposes on a large scale, although no concrete evidence has been provided to substantiate these claims.

Helen McEntee, Ireland’s foreign minister, expressed her deep outrage over the devastating Israeli assault on Lebanon, which has resulted in the loss of more than 200 lives. Following a phone conversation with Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi, McEntee took to X to condemn the brutal attacks and urge all parties to adhere to the ceasefire, emphasizing that Lebanon must also be included in the agreement.

In a recent address to foreign ambassadors and heads of international organisations in Tehran, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs, Majid Takht Ravanchi, expressed his stance on the upcoming US-Iran talks in Islamabad.

In a recent two-day visit to Doha, India’s Minister of Oil and Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, held a meeting with Qatar’s State Minister for Energy Affairs and QatarEnergy CEO, Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi. During the visit, Puri and Al-Kaabi engaged in discussions covering a wide range of topics, including high-level diplomatic interactions, trade, investment, energy cooperation, cultural exchanges, and people-to-people connections. Puri expressed optimism about the prospect of a swift return to peace and stability in the region, while also looking forward to bolstering bilateral ties between the two nations. According to Puri, Al-Kaabi reaffirmed Qatar’s commitment to serving as a dependable energy supplier and emphasized the country’s desire to continue and enhance its energy partnership with India.

In a recent escalation, Hezbollah militants claimed responsibility for deploying a fleet of combat drones against the Kiryat Shmona settlement in northern Israel on Friday.
Additionally, the group confirmed that its forces were continuing to launch missile strikes against the settlements of Metula, Margaliot, and Misgav Am.

Ship tracking data and industry sources indicate that a significant proportion of vessels navigating the Strait of Hormuz over the past 24 hours have connections to Iran. Conversely, other ships have opted to postpone their journeys.

Recent data analysis from Kpler and Lloyd’s List Intelligence platforms reveals that a large crude oil tanker with a capacity of 2 million barrels, a smaller oil tanker, and a bunker fuel vessel have all departed Iranian waters within the same time frame.

Furthermore, four dry bulk ships, including an Iranian iron ore carrier en route to China, have successfully sailed through the strait, according to available data.