US-Israel Iran War Live Updates

Iran’s stance on unfettered aerial access has been starkly illustrated by the destruction of an F-15 fighter jet, with the Iranian military claiming responsibility for the downing.
Reports indicate that a US fighter jet has crashed into the Gulf, according to Iranian armed forces, who assert that they were the ones to engage it.
Additionally, there are indications that a Black Hawk helicopter was struck by an Iranian anti-aircraft missile while attempting to extract a US pilot.

According to a report from the Tasnim news agency, Iranian forces have reportedly taken down a US A-10 aircraft in the vicinity of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway. Citing the Iranian army’s public relations team, the report indicates that the aircraft was targeted in the waters surrounding the strategic passage. The authenticity of this claim remains unverified. Notably, the A-10 is a US military aircraft specifically designed for ground-attack missions, often used to support ground forces and target armoured vehicles. This incident follows reports of a second US Air Force combat plane crashing in the Gulf region on Friday.

A pivotal bridge in eastern Lebanon was reduced to rubble after Israeli military forces issued a warning that two strategic bridges in the area would be targeted.
Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported that Israeli warplanes zeroed in on the bridge connecting Sohmor and Mashghara, ultimately leading to its destruction.
The Israeli military had previously issued a statement indicating its intention to target the Sohmor and Mashghara bridges in order to prevent the transfer of reinforcements and military equipment, accompanied by a map pinpointing the two bridges, which are situated approximately 100 metres apart.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced a significant decrease in petrol prices, with a reduction of 80 rupees per litre, bringing the cost down to 378 rupees ($1.35) as of Friday evening. This decrease is made possible by the government’s petroleum levy. The decision comes on the heels of a substantial price increase, implemented just the day prior, which saw fuel prices rise by at least 43 percent due to escalating global oil costs resulting from the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

According to recent reports from the US media, an official has confirmed that two helicopters participating in a search-and-rescue operation for stranded pilots came under fire from Iranian forces.

In a phone conversation with NBC, President Trump sidestepped details of the rescue mission, stating firmly that Iran’s actions would not impact diplomatic talks. “It’s war,” he bluntly told the US network, dismissing any potential impact on negotiations. Meanwhile, US officials remain tight-lipped about the incident, while Iran maintains that two US aircraft were targeted.

Reports are emerging from Iranian media outlets of a series of blasts in the country’s capital, Tehran, prompting the deployment of air defence systems to counter the perceived threat.
Simultaneously, explosions have been detected in Karaj, a city situated west of Tehran, further underscoring the scale of the incident.

A targeted Israeli airstrike has landed in the Marjayoun district, specifically in the Dbeibine area of southern Lebanon, as tensions escalate. In a retaliatory move, Hezbollah has launched a missile assault on the Israeli settlement of Yir’on, characterizing the attack as a warning to northern Israeli settlements.

Iran’s spokesperson, Ebrahim Zolfaghari, has disputed US President Trump’s claims that the US had neutralized Iran’s air defence capabilities, citing the downing of a US jet as evidence. According to Zolfaghari, the incident was a result of Iran’s deployment of a cutting-edge defence system. In a televised statement, he also revealed that another hostile aircraft was intercepted and destroyed, crashing into the waters between Qeshm and Hengam Islands, located south of Qeshm Island.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has fired back at US President Donald Trump, denouncing his threat to reduce Iran to a “Stone Age” state as a brazen admission of intent to commit a catastrophic war crime. In a scathing rebuke, Pezeshkian cited the example of Finnish politician Alexander Stubb, a jurist, to underscore the gravity of Trump’s words. The Iranian leader also warned that history has shown that those who remain silent in the face of tyranny often pay a steep price for their inaction.