US-Israel Iran War Live Updates

Iraq, a country with a complex web of alliances and hosting US forces, has become a focal point in the intensifying Iran war. The nation, home to various Iran-backed groups and vulnerable to cross-regional instability, is experiencing a surge in attacks from multiple directions.

The US military has faced allegations of launching numerous strikes against positions held by Iraq’s Popular Mobilisation Forces, which includes some Iran-aligned brigades. Conversely, US facilities in Iraq have been targeted in recent attacks, with a notable incident involving a drone assault on a helipad within the US embassy in Baghdad, according to security sources.

Furthermore, Kurdish forces in northern Iraq have come under fire from groups backed by Tehran, with one drone attack specifically targeting the residence of Nechirvan Barzani, the president of the semi-autonomous Kurdish region.

“Iraq’s precarious situation is largely a result of its fractured state and foreign policy,” Renad Mansour, a senior research fellow and director of the Iraq Initiative at the UK-based think tank Chatham House, explained to Al Jazeera. “Iraq’s diverse political and security landscape is comprised of various factions, each with its own external allegiances: some maintain close ties with Iran, while others are more closely connected to the US.”

In a swift counterattack, Iran unleashed a barrage of missiles at Israel following a bold claim by US President Donald Trump that his country had effectively dismantled Iran’s military capabilities and was on the cusp of achieving its objectives in the ongoing conflict.
Trump’s televised address to the nation came on the heels of his assertion that Iran had requested a ceasefire, a claim vehemently disputed by Iranian officials.
In a separate statement, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian sought to downplay the conflict, emphasizing that his country harbors no animosity towards the people of the United States, Europe, or neighboring nations.
For a comprehensive overview of the current situation on the 34th day of the US-Israel-Iran conflict, refer to our in-depth analysis.

Iran’s top military commander has instructed his operational teams to closely monitor the movements of the United States and Israel in real-time, with the goal of thwarting any potential ground assault. This directive was conveyed by Armed Forces chief Amir Hatami during a high-level meeting with senior army officials, as captured in a video released by Iran’s government news agency IRNA. According to IRNA’s report, Hatami emphasized the importance of eliminating any potential threats, stating that no enemy personnel should be left alive if a ground invasion were to occur.

A US administration expert has asserted that Donald Trump’s recent address was a clear indication of the administration’s limited options in its dealings with Iran.
Andreas Krieg, a senior lecturer at King’s College and fellow at the Institute of Middle Eastern Studies, expressed this sentiment to Al Jazeera.
According to Krieg, Trump’s dual message – which included both threats against civilian targets and a hint at a potential exit strategy – demonstrated a glaring disregard for the far-reaching consequences of the conflict on the global economy.
Krieg’s assessment of the situation is that the US administration is woefully unprepared and lacks a coherent strategy, having failed to develop a comprehensive plan from the outset.

A high-ranking Hezbollah official, Haj Youssef Ismail Hashem, lost his life in a targeted attack on Wednesday, leaving the organization reeling. According to the Israeli military, Hashem was the commander of Hezbollah’s southern front, a position that has now been compromised due to his untimely demise.
The strike that claimed Hashem’s life occurred in Beirut, exposing a significant vulnerability in Hezbollah’s intelligence and security apparatus. In stark contrast, the situation in the southern region remains volatile, with Hezbollah continuing to launch a barrage of rockets into northern Israel. Reports indicate that at least 70 rockets have been fired since midnight, with many intercepted and others causing minimal damage, but still disrupting daily life and prompting residents to seek shelter or flee the area.
As Israel presses on with its ground invasion, Hezbollah is countering with fierce resistance, including ambushes and antitank fire. Although the Israeli military’s assassination policy has dealt a significant blow to Hezbollah, the organization is refusing to back down, at least for the time being, as it continues to put up a stubborn fight in the south.

Al Jazeera spoke with Andreas Krieg, a renowned expert from King’s College London, to shed light on the current state of Iran’s military capabilities.
According to Krieg, Iran’s military prowess is far from diminished, with its arsenal boasting a substantial level of sophistication. This assertion directly contradicts the US’s claims, which Krieg believes are unfounded. The analyst pointed out that Iran’s military capabilities remain robust, enabling it to launch projectiles into the Gulf and even into Israel, should the need arise. Furthermore, Krieg noted that Iran’s precision in targeting has actually improved due to the weakening of defence systems.

In the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint, Krieg observed that Europe and the UK have come to the realization that the US is no longer a dependable ally. The analyst emphasized that any resolution to the situation must be achieved through diplomatic means, with or without American involvement. In his words, “there is no military way to force this gate open.”

Philippine Foreign Minister Ma Theresa Lazaro has announced a breakthrough in her discussions with Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi, resulting in a shared understanding on safeguarding the well-being of Filipino sailors. According to a post on X, Lazaro stated that the two nations have made significant progress in their talks, culminating in a positive agreement on seafarer safety and energy security. This development comes after the Philippine government revealed that approximately 7,300 Filipino seafarers were operating in high-risk regions of the Middle East, including the Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz, and the Gulf of Oman, last month.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty is set to visit Moscow on Thursday, where he will engage in high-level discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin, with the Iran conflict and broader Middle Eastern issues expected to be key topics of conversation, according to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov.

In a recent parliamentary move, Israel’s lawmakers approved a contentious bill that will empower military courts to sentence Palestinians to death for allegedly committing acts of terrorism against Israelis, while exempting Jewish Israelis from facing the same penalty for harming Palestinians. This discriminatory legislation has now drawn sharp criticism from the foreign ministers of eight predominantly Muslim nations: Pakistan, Turkiye, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. The ministers collectively denounced the law in a joint statement, warning that it represents a disturbing escalation of Israel’s apartheid policies and a blatant disregard for the fundamental rights of Palestinians living under occupation. The statement also highlighted the dire conditions faced by Palestinian detainees in Israeli custody, citing credible reports of torture, malnutrition, and systemic human rights abuses. The European Union and several European countries have also voiced their disapproval of the legislation, which human rights groups describe as a cornerstone of Israel’s apartheid regime.

A convicted individual has been put to death by the Iranian government following a conviction for his alleged involvement in a violent assault on a sensitive military facility during a wave of anti-government demonstrations that swept the country in January.
Amirhossein Hatami was found guilty of collaborating in operations that compromised national security, trespassing on classified military installations, and causing damage to and setting fire to government property, according to reports from Iran’s Mehr news agency.
The nationwide protests that took place in December and January resulted in the loss of thousands of lives.