US-Israel Iran War Live Updates

In a phone conversation with Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Friday morning, Pope Leo XIV stressed the importance of reviving diplomatic efforts to bring an end to the ongoing conflict in the region. According to the Vatican, the Easter call emphasized the need to re-establish open lines of communication and work towards a lasting and equitable peace in the Middle East.

Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei has denounced US and Israeli strikes on Iranian bridges as a form of “war crime reminiscent of ISIS-style terrorism.” This rebuke comes in response to US President Donald Trump’s vow to escalate attacks on Iranian infrastructure, following the partial destruction of the B1 bridge connecting Tehran to Karaj. In a statement on X, Baghaei emphasized that targeting vital infrastructure, such as the iconic bridges, only serves to underscore the destructive nature of the perpetrators.

On his Truth Social platform, US President Donald Trump recently expressed confidence that with a bit more time, the US can effortlessly navigate the Strait of Hormuz, secure oil supplies, and reap substantial financial rewards.

Reports have emerged from Iran indicating that a US fighter jet was shot down in a central region of the country, prompting a US rescue operation. Although US officials have yet to issue a statement, Iranian authorities have released images purporting to show the wreckage of the aircraft.
According to Iranian news agency Tasnim, the US attempted to extract the pilot, whose status remains uncertain. The operation, which involved Black Hawk helicopters and a C-130 Hercules aircraft, has thus far been unsuccessful, Tasnim reported.
Al Jazeera has been unable to confirm the details independently. It is worth noting that in March, an American F-35 was forced to make an emergency landing following an engagement with Iranian fire.

Mitsui OSK Lines announced on Friday that a Japanese-owned liquefied natural gas tanker, flying the Panamanian flag, has successfully navigated the Strait of Hormuz.
This historic transit marks the first time a Japanese vessel has made the journey since the outbreak of conflict in the region.
According to a company representative, the vessel completed its passage without incident, although further details regarding security arrangements were not disclosed to Reuters.

A devastating series of Israeli strikes has crippled key water facilities in southern Lebanon, leaving vital services in shambles, according to the South Lebanon Water Establishment.
The Lebanese National News Agency carried a statement from the civilian authority, revealing that the attacks had specifically targeted facilities in Ibl al-Saqi and al-Maysat, resulting in substantial damage.
Furthermore, the strikes also impacted solar power systems at the al-Zahiriya station in Qanarit and Eastern Well No 1.
In a scathing rebuke, the authority denounced the attacks on essential civilian infrastructure, labeling them a blatant disregard for international norms and conventions that safeguard the neutrality of institutions providing basic services to civilians during times of conflict.
The statement emphasized that the targeting of vital facilities, particularly water facilities, constitutes a flagrant breach of these international standards.

Reports from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies indicate that a humanitarian aid facility in Iran’s Bushehr province has been severely damaged following a drone strike.
According to eyewitness accounts, the assault resulted in significant destruction, including the obliteration of two containers, two buses, and multiple emergency vehicles.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, which maintains a substantial presence in Iran with approximately 100,000 responders, has suffered a loss of three staff members since the onset of the Israeli-US conflict on February 28.
The organization’s representative has expressed growing concern over the escalating medical needs and the looming threat of supply shortages.

As the cumulative cost of Israel’s ongoing conflicts on multiple fronts has surpassed $112 billion, the prospect of a resolution remains uncertain.
Daily missile attacks from Iran have become a harsh reality, schools remain shuttered, and the economy is showing alarming signs of strain.
Despite 78 percent of Jewish Israelis still expressing support for the war effort, pollsters caution that this backing may dwindle in the face of unrelenting hostilities.
In tandem, the government has further shifted to the right, approving a record-breaking $271 billion budget and a contentious death penalty law targeting Palestinians.
Al Jazeera’s Simon Speakman Cordall examines the profound impact of years of war on Israel’s social fabric.

Iranian military forces have reportedly launched a series of drone attacks against US-affiliated sites in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan, as stated in a press release disseminated by the Tasnim News Agency. The Iranian military claimed that the strikes were aimed at US military facilities in response to attacks on Iranian infrastructure, including industrial complexes in Isfahan and Khuzestan, and the B1 bridge in Karaj.

According to the statement, Iranian forces targeted a US military supply depot in Jordan and a mechanized battalion facility within the US armored brigade’s Arifjan camp in Kuwait. Additionally, the Iranian military asserted that it had struck the largest aluminum smelter in Bahrain, citing its alleged support for US military industries.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made the assertion that 70 percent of Iran’s steel production capacity has been dismantled as a result of ongoing US-Israeli air strikes, which have consistently targeted key Iranian infrastructure and the nation’s industrial core.
Netanyahu emphasized this development in a video statement on Friday, stating, “We are systematically eliminating key commanders, disrupting critical infrastructure, and crippling strategic assets.”
He further highlighted the significance of this achievement, saying it severely hampers the Revolutionary Guards’ access to vital financial resources and their capacity to manufacture a wide range of military-grade equipment.
It is worth noting that strikes on civilian facilities, such as steel plants, are generally prohibited unless they are being utilized for military purposes.