US-Israel Iran War Live Updates

Mitsui OSK Lines announced on Friday that a Japanese liquefied natural gas tanker, flying the Panama flag, had successfully navigated the Strait of Hormuz, marking a significant milestone for the company.
This notable achievement comes after a period of conflict, making it the first Japanese vessel to achieve this feat since the outbreak of war.
According to a company representative, the vessel completed the transit without incident, although specifics regarding the measures taken to ensure safe passage were not disclosed to Reuters.

A devastating blow to southern Lebanon’s water services has been dealt by Israeli airstrikes, which have crippled key facilities, according to the South Lebanon Water Establishment.
The Lebanese National News Agency reported that the civilian authority had been left reeling after strikes hit crucial installations in Ibl al-Saqi and al-Maysat, resulting in substantial damage.
Furthermore, the attacks 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 assault on essential civilian infrastructure, labeling it a blatant disregard for international norms and conventions.
“The deliberate targeting of vital facilities, particularly water facilities, constitutes a flagrant breach of international conventions that safeguard the neutrality of institutions and services providing basic necessities to civilians during times of conflict,” the authority stated.

Reports from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies indicate that a warehouse storing vital aid and emergency equipment in Iran’s Bushehr province was struck by a drone on Friday, resulting in significant damage.
The assault, attributed to an Israeli-US joint operation, resulted in the destruction of two containers, two buses, and a substantial number of emergency vehicles.
According to the IFRC, which maintains a substantial presence in Iran with approximately 100,000 responders, at least three of its personnel have lost their lives since the conflict commenced on February 28.
The IFRC’s delegation leader expressed deep concern over the escalating medical needs and the looming threat of supply shortages.

As the cumulative toll of Israel’s multifaceted conflicts continues to escalate, the staggering figure of $112 billion has now been reached, with no definitive resolution in sight.
Daily missile attacks from Iran have become a norm, schools remain shuttered, and the country’s economic stability is beginning to fray.
Despite 78 percent of Jewish Israelis still expressing support for the ongoing conflict, pollsters caution that this backing may start to wane. In tandem, the government has shifted further to the right, approving a record-breaking $271 billion budget and a contentious death penalty law aimed at Palestinians.
Al Jazeera correspondent Simon Speakman Cordall examines the profound impact of years of war on Israel’s social fabric.

Iranian military forces have reportedly unleashed a series of drone attacks against strategic US-linked facilities in the Gulf region, encompassing Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan, according to a statement disseminated by the Tasnim News Agency.

The Iranian military claimed that the strikes were directed at infrastructure linked to US forces in retaliation for attacks on Iranian industrial sites, including steel factory complexes in Isfahan and Khuzestan, as well as the B1 bridge in Karaj.

The statement asserted that Iranian forces had begun targeting US military installations early that morning, specifically the logistical support facilities for US troops in Jordan and the mechanized battalion of the US armored brigade stationed at the Arifjan camp in Kuwait.

Additionally, Iranian forces reportedly employed drones to target the largest aluminum smelter in Bahrain, which they characterized as a key supporter of US military industries.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that 70 percent of Iran’s steel production capability has been obliterated by a series of US-Israeli aerial strikes, which have consistently targeted key Iranian infrastructure and the country’s industrial backbone. According to Netanyahu, these military operations have effectively crippled the Revolutionary Guards’ financial resources and their capacity to manufacture various weapons.

In a video statement released on Friday, Netanyahu outlined the scope of the strikes, stating, “We are neutralizing commanders, severing transportation links, and dismantling critical infrastructure.” He hailed the campaign as a significant achievement, underscoring its impact on the Revolutionary Guards’ ability to access financial resources and produce military hardware.

It is worth noting that attacks on civilian sites, such as steel plants, are generally prohibited unless they are being utilized for military purposes.

According to Iranian state media, a joint operation by US and Israeli forces has resulted in a military assault on the Shahid Beheshti University campus in northern Tehran and the surrounding areas of Mehrabad International Airport, located west of the capital.

Kenneth Roth, a visiting academic at Princeton University and former director of Human Rights Watch, cautioned that US military actions targeting Iranian civilian infrastructure could be classified as war crimes.
Roth, speaking to Al Jazeera, emphasized that if US President Trump were to carry out threats to attack facilities such as power plants or desalination plants, these actions would undoubtedly be considered war crimes.
He noted that the potential harm to civilians would be grossly disproportionate to any conceivable military objective, citing precedents established by the International Criminal Court, which has already prosecuted Russian commanders for similar attacks in Ukraine.
Roth further stated that over 100 international law experts concur with his assessment, underscoring the gravity of the situation.

Israeli military officials have confirmed that missiles originating from Iran are en route to Israel, prompting a swift response from the country’s air defence systems as they strive to neutralize the potential threat.

In a significant development, President Donald Trump has formally asked Congress to authorise a substantial boost of $1.5 trillion to the US defence budget, a move that coincides with escalating tensions with Iran.