US-Israel Iran War Live Updates

A devastating Israeli aerial assault on Ain Saadeh, situated just east of Beirut, has resulted in the loss of at least three lives and left three more individuals seriously injured, according to the latest information from Lebanon’s Health Ministry.

A prolonged nationwide internet shutdown in Iran has surpassed the longest recorded blackout in any country, according to a global monitoring organization, exacerbating the nation’s economic and social woes amidst the ongoing conflict with the US and Israel. The shutdown, now in its sixth week, has left Iranians struggling to cope with the devastating effects of war and a severely battered digital infrastructure.

As the conflict rages on, the Iranian government has yet to provide a clear plan for reviving the country’s crippled economy and digital sector, even in the unlikely event of a diplomatic breakthrough. For those already facing the harsh realities of war, the uncertainty has become a double-edged sword.

“I narrowly escaped the layoffs in January, but this latest wave has left me jobless,” said Kamran, a product designer from Karaj, near Tehran, who received the news on the first working day after the Nowruz holidays. His story is a stark reminder of the devastating impact of the conflict on Iran’s workforce.

A senior data analyst, who wishes to remain anonymous, shared a similar tale from a Tehran-based firm. The company has opted to offer lower pay raises for the new Persian year, a temporary measure aimed at avoiding layoffs. However, the analyst revealed that the firm has taken to issuing three-month contracts, casting a shadow of uncertainty over the future of many employees.

Iranian authorities have granted permission to 15 ships to navigate the Strait of Hormuz over the past 24 hours, as per the latest available data, according to the Fars news agency, which is affiliated with the IRGC.

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region has been subjected to a staggering 6,500 projectiles, resulting in damage to residential areas, civilian zones, airports, power plants, and critical energy infrastructure.
GCC member states are vehemently disputing the legitimacy of the Iranian strikes, citing that these targeted assets have no connection to the US and are unrelated to the US’s military actions against Iranian facilities. They claim to have exercised remarkable restraint thus far, given the high stakes involved.
GCC states have primarily sought to rally international support, including the United Nations Security Council, in response to the Iranian aggression.
However, if Iran escalates its attacks and the GCC countries perceive the threat as existential, encompassing both their economic and security interests, their defensive stance may transition into a retaliatory posture, potentially exacerbating the situation.

A statement from Hezbollah revealed the group’s involvement in a series of coordinated attacks on Israeli military personnel and installations in northern Israel and along the border with southern Lebanon.
According to the statement, explosive devices were strategically positioned near the town of Shamaa in southern Lebanon, detonating in proximity to Israeli forces, and subsequently, the group fired on a rescue team that arrived at the scene in an apparent attempt to provide assistance.
Hezbollah also claimed to have launched rocket assaults targeting Israeli army outposts and gatherings in the vicinity of the town of Ainata, as well as areas east of the Khiam detention centre.
Furthermore, the group reported firing rockets towards the northern Israeli towns of Nahariya and Metula, and stated that it had targeted the Meron air operations command and control base in northern Israel.
As of now, there has been no official response from the Israeli military.

In the escalating US-Israeli conflict with Iran, David Keen, a renowned conflict expert, highlights the daunting task of making peace a more appealing option than war.

According to a statement from the Public Security Directorate, Jordanian authorities successfully intercepted and destroyed two missiles and two drones launched from Iranian territory within the past 24 hours, which had entered the country’s airspace.
The Jordan News Agency reported that the military also addressed 18 incidents of falling debris and projectiles during the same time frame, resulting in no reported casualties but some material damage.

President Trump’s day began with a forceful statement about the Strait of Hormuz, which some interpreted as a sign of his growing frustration with Iran’s refusal to comply with US demands. He described it as a “Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day all wrapped up in one,” suggesting a sense of urgency and impatience. However, his message took a dramatic turn when he specified a deadline for Iran’s concession: 8pm on Tuesday. If Iran fails to comply by then, Trump warned, the consequences could be catastrophic, including the possibility of destroying civilian infrastructure and seizing Iran’s oil. This stance has raised concerns among observers, who point out that such actions would constitute a war crime. Meanwhile, Trump has been sending mixed signals, suggesting that negotiations with Iran are underway and could yield a breakthrough within the next 24 hours. He has told US media outlets that he believes an agreement is imminent, citing the efforts of his close advisors, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, who are reportedly engaged in talks with unidentified Iranian officials. The president’s comments to ABC News have further fueled speculation that a deal could be reached in a matter of days, rather than weeks.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei emphasized the country’s military stance in an interview, directly addressing President Trump’s recent threats against Iran.
According to Baghaei, Iran’s armed forces have explicitly stated that if their infrastructure is subjected to US aggression, they will retaliate with equal force.
He further clarified that any US-related infrastructure, whether directly owned or indirectly involved in the aggression against Iran, would be targeted by Iran’s military in response to such an attack.

In a recent briefing, Israeli army chief Eyal Zamir announced that the Israeli military has designated the entire area south of Lebanon’s Litani River, where ongoing ground operations are taking place, as a combat zone aimed at countering Hezbollah’s activities.
During a visit to the Ras al-Bayada region in southern Lebanon, Zamir reportedly conveyed to deployed troops that their primary objective is to curb the incidence of high-trajectory fire originating from Lebanon, a task that is expected to be a prolonged process.
The escalation of conflict has resulted in over 1.1 million people being forcibly relocated from their homes across Lebanon, as Israel’s military campaign intensifies and expands into southern Lebanon.
International concerns are growing over Israel’s alleged destruction of civilian infrastructure, with human rights organizations and UN officials accusing the country of violating international law and potentially paving the way for a prolonged occupation of southern Lebanese territory.