US-Israel Iran War Live Updates

Reports are emerging from Iranian news outlets of a series of explosions in Tehran, the country’s capital, prompting the deployment of air defence systems to counter the threat.
Simultaneously, a separate incident has been reported in Karaj, a city situated to the west of Tehran, where further explosions have been detected.

According to recent reports from US media outlets, a US official has come forward to confirm that two helicopters participating in a search-and-rescue operation for the stranded pilots were struck by Iranian gunfire.

A strategic bridge connecting Sohmor and Mashghara in eastern Lebanon was reduced to rubble following a targeted Israeli airstrike, which came after Israel’s military issued a warning that it would target two bridges in the vicinity.

Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported that Israeli warplanes had zeroed in on the critical bridge, rendering it impassable. This development follows a prior threat by Israel’s military to strike the Sohmor and Mashghara bridges, citing concerns over the transfer of reinforcements and military equipment. The Israeli military had previously published a map pinpointing the two bridges, which are situated approximately 100 metres apart.

In a sudden reversal, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced a reduction in petrol prices, lowering the cost to 378 rupees ($1.35) per litre, a decrease of 80 rupees. This decision was made possible by utilizing the government’s petroleum levy to fund the decrease. The move comes on the heels of a substantial price increase, implemented just 24 hours prior, which saw fuel prices rise by at least 43 percent due to escalating global oil costs stemming from the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Iran’s stance on open skies has been made starkly clear through its military actions, with the downing of an F-15 aircraft being a prime example. US military losses also include a fighter jet that reportedly crashed into the Gulf, according to Iranian armed forces, who claim responsibility for the incident. Furthermore, there are reports that an Iranian surface-to-air missile was used to target a Black Hawk helicopter attempting to rescue a US pilot.

According to a report by the Tasnim news agency, Iran’s military has claimed responsibility for shooting down a US A-10 aircraft in the vicinity of the Strait of Hormuz, citing information from the army’s public relations department. The alleged incident occurred in waters situated south of and surrounding the strategically vital waterway. The authenticity of this claim remains uncertain and requires independent verification. The A-10, a US-designed ground-attack aircraft, is primarily used for close air support missions, targeting armoured vehicles and ground troops. This development follows reports from US media outlets that a second US Air Force combat aircraft had crashed in the Gulf region on Friday.

A fatal incident occurred in Syria’s Qunietra province, with state media attributing the death to an Israeli tank attack. The victim, a local resident, was reportedly killed in the vicinity of the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. According to SANA, the Syrian state news agency, the attack targeted a car, while state television suggested a broader assault. Prior to the incident, SANA had announced that Israeli forces in Quneitra province had sealed off several roads leading to newly established military positions, effectively limiting the movement of local residents and farmers. Israeli vehicles had also set up a temporary checkpoint in a village, where they conducted searches of individuals passing through.

A recent explosion at a UNIFIL position in Lebanon has resulted in three peacekeepers being injured, marking the third such incident within a week. UNIFIL spokesperson Kandice Ardiel confirmed that the blast occurred inside a UN position, causing serious injuries to two of the peacekeepers, who are currently undergoing evacuation to a hospital for treatment. The cause of the explosion remains unknown at this time.

A similar incident occurred on Sunday, when a projectile exploded in a UNIFIL position, resulting in the death of an Indonesian peacekeeper. A second blast the following day claimed the lives of two more Indonesian troops. Since UNIFIL’s inception in 1978 to monitor the withdrawal of Israeli forces following their invasion of Lebanon, a total of 97 force members have lost their lives in violence. UNIFIL’s mandate is set to expire at the end of this year.

Reports from the Bint Jbeil area of southern Lebanon confirm that an Israeli military operation has resulted in a significant strike, with eyewitnesses describing the aftermath.
In response, Hezbollah has issued a statement claiming responsibility for a series of retaliatory attacks against Israeli positions in northern Israel and along the border.
According to the group’s military communications, Hezbollah forces launched multiple rocket salvos towards Nahariya, engaged Israeli troops and vehicles in Maroun al-Ras and Avivim, and dispatched a swarm of unmanned aerial vehicles towards Kiryat Shmona.

A devastating Israeli air assault on the Lebanese town of Sahmar in the Bekaa Valley has resulted in the loss of at least two lives and left 15 individuals injured, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry’s latest reports.