US-Israel Iran War Live Updates

Since March 1, the World Health Organization has documented a disturbing trend of over 20 assaults on healthcare facilities in Iran, resulting in a staggering loss of life.
At least nine individuals have fallen victim to these attacks, including a member of the Iranian Red Crescent Society.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of the World Health Organization, has expressed grave concern over the impact of these strikes, particularly the devastating blow to the historic Pasteur Institute in Tehran, which has been rendered inoperable and is no longer able to provide essential health services.
This includes a psychiatric hospital and a critical facility producing vital medicines for cancer and multiple sclerosis patients.

In a joint press conference marking French President Emmanuel Macron’s inaugural visit to South Korea, both Macron and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung expressed their commitment to a joint effort aimed at revitalizing maritime trade through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. This announcement follows a high-level virtual meeting convened by the UK, which brought together representatives from 40 nations to address the crisis.

Reports from Kuwait’s official news agency confirm a third assault on the strategic Mina al-Ahmadi oil refinery within a two-week timeframe.
As one of the region’s largest and most vital refineries, Mina al-Ahmadi plays a pivotal role in Kuwait’s domestic energy market.
Cross-border tensions are escalating in the Gulf, with our correspondents documenting multiple alarms triggered in the UAE and Bahrain within the past few hours. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has intercepted six drones.
Given its proximity to Iran, Kuwait occupies a unique position, with the Iranian coastline a mere 80km (50 miles) away. This proximity makes it an attractive target for potential attackers.
The country’s border with Iraq also raises concerns, particularly in light of recent speculation that Iran-affiliated groups in Iraq may be involved in recent attacks.

A fire broke out at the Habshan gas facility, a critical Emirati gas processing hub, after debris from a intercepted projectile landed on the site, the Abu Dhabi Media Office has confirmed.
In a statement posted on X, officials announced that operations at the facility have been temporarily halted as authorities work to contain the blaze, with no reported casualties so far.

A lull in missile attacks from Iran into Israel has provided a brief respite, but Hezbollah’s relentless bombardment of northern Israel communities continues unabated, with estimates suggesting the militant group has launched approximately 200 rockets over the past 24 hours.
As the conflict with Hezbollah intensifies, Israeli military sources have been discussing a contentious strategy to clear a three-kilometre buffer zone along the Israel-Lebanon border, extending into southern Lebanon. Although the plan has yet to be sanctioned by the government, it underscores the army’s own assessment of the situation.
The proposed measure aims to ensure that no residents inhabit villages and communities proximal to Israel’s borders, thereby minimizing the threat to northern Israel’s population. However, the military has also clarified that disarming Hezbollah is not a primary objective of their military campaign.
Recent intelligence suggests that the Israeli army may have initially misjudged Hezbollah’s capabilities, particularly with regards to their arsenal of missiles capable of reaching central Israel.

Lebanon’s medical infrastructure is facing unprecedented devastation as a result of Israel’s relentless bombardment, which has left a trail of destruction and a crippling shortage of healthcare services in southern Lebanon. According to the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health, the past month of intensified airstrikes has resulted in the loss of 53 medical personnel, the destruction of 87 ambulances and medical facilities, and the forced closure of five hospitals.

Luna Hammad, the Lebanon medical coordinator for Doctors Without Borders (MSF), underscored the severity of the situation, stating that Israeli strikes and blanket evacuation orders have effectively severed access to medical care and severely curtailed the ability of healthcare services to operate. Hammad noted that MSF has documented a clear pattern of attacks targeting healthcare facilities, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the region.

A divergence in market performance emerged on Friday, with Japan and South Korea’s key indexes experiencing gains despite heightened tensions, while Chinese equities suffered significant losses. The Hang Seng Index in Hong Kong declined by 0.7 percent, building on previous days’ losses. Meanwhile, the Shanghai Composite Index and Shenzhen Component Index on the Chinese mainland both dropped approximately 1 percent.

US President Donald Trump’s ominous warning on Truth Social sparked concerns of intensified strikes against Iranian civilian infrastructure, as he ominously declared that the military had merely begun to dismantle what remained in the country, with bridges and electric power plants being the next targets. The targeting of hospitals, universities, and other civilian structures constitutes a blatant disregard for the Geneva Conventions, which serve as the cornerstone of international humanitarian law governing warfare. The following sites have been impacted since the US and Israeli military campaigns commenced on February 28.

In a stark warning, Iran’s military has vowed to unleash a broader campaign of attacks across the region if the United States proceeds with its plans to target the country’s critical infrastructure.
According to Ebrahim Zolfaghari, spokesperson for Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya central headquarters, any attempt by the US to strike Iran’s key infrastructure will be met with a devastating response, including the destruction of American and Israeli-linked assets and facilities in the region.
Zolfaghari’s statement was a direct response to repeated threats made by US President Donald Trump, who has vowed to dismantle Iran’s vital bridges, power plants, and energy infrastructure.
If Trump’s threats are carried out, Iran’s armed forces will target fuel, energy, and economic sites linked to the US and Israel, as well as assets in countries hosting American military bases, Zolfaghari warned.
In a veiled warning to countries hosting US forces, Zolfaghari urged them to force American troops to leave their territories if they want to avoid suffering harm, citing the need for self-preservation.
The warning came after Trump claimed that US forces had destroyed Iran’s largest bridge, although the bridge in question was actually an under-construction suspension bridge between Tehran and Karaj that had collapsed.

Italy’s economy minister, Giancarlo Giorgetti, has hinted that the European Union may reassess its stringent budget deficit rules for member states, citing the ongoing economic repercussions of the US-Israel conflict with Iran. The EU’s existing requirement for member states to maintain budget deficits below 3 percent of GDP may be up for review. Giorgetti expressed his concerns to reporters in Rome, stating that a European-wide discussion on the matter is likely if the current economic situation does not improve. He has already brought the issue to the attention of his European counterparts.