US-Israel Iran War Live Updates

The government’s response to Israel’s recent actions has left many in the south feeling disillusioned. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam’s comments earlier today failed to alleviate the concerns of those displaced by the conflict. The uncertainty surrounding their future is palpable, particularly for those who have been forced to flee their homes due to Israel’s plans to expand into the territories up to the Litani River, as Defence Minister Israel Katz has stated. This would mean that over 600,000 people who once called this region home may be permanently barred from returning.

The situation on the ground is dire, with Israel systematically targeting homes, farmland, and infrastructure in the border areas. Overnight, the town of Biyyada suffered significant damage, with homes and farmland destroyed. Similar destruction was reported in Naqoura, where the UNIFIL headquarters is located, and controlled demolitions took place in the border town of Debl. As the Lebanese people bear witness to this devastation, they are left wondering if they will ever be able to reclaim their homes and livelihoods.

US President Donald Trump issued a stark warning to Iran on Wednesday, stating that he would reduce the country to a state of ancient times through military force. Shortly after, his Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reinforced this stance with a cryptic message on X, simply stating “Back to the Stone Age.” This ominous phrase typically implies unleashing a carpet bombing campaign, leaving a nation’s modern infrastructure in ruins. However, Trump’s threat is not an isolated incident, but rather a continuation of a long-standing US tradition of issuing similar warnings during military interventions, often resulting in devastating consequences.

An earlier assault on the key highway bridge connecting Tehran to Karaj has resulted in a tragic loss of life, according to the deputy governor of Alborz province.
Speaking to Iran’s ISNA news agency, the official disclosed that the attack claimed the lives of two individuals.
Multiple others were rushed to medical facilities for treatment, the official further stated. Fortunately, there have been no reported disruptions to essential services such as electricity, water, or environmental concerns linked to the incident.

The Austrian Defence Ministry has revealed that it has turned down multiple US requests to utilize its airspace for operations linked to Iran, in accordance with the country’s long-standing neutrality law.

A Defence Ministry representative confirmed that several requests had been submitted by Washington, though the exact number was not disclosed, as reported by Austrian public broadcaster ORF.

Each request is being individually evaluated in close collaboration with the Austrian Foreign Ministry, the representative stated.

As a nation committed to military neutrality, Austria has not implemented a blanket ban on US overflights but is instead conducting a case-by-case review of such requests, according to the Defence Ministry.

Meanwhile, Spain has taken a strong stance against the conflict, announcing that its airspace is closed to US military aircraft involved in the war.

Additionally, the Italian government recently denied US bombers access to a military base in Sicily.

Pakistan remains committed to facilitating negotiations between the US and Iran, despite acknowledging the presence of obstacles in its efforts to broker a peace deal. According to Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi, Islamabad will continue to promote dialogue and facilitation, despite the challenges it faces.

Andrabi made the comments during a media briefing in Islamabad, hours after US President Donald Trump issued a warning to Iran, stating that it would face severe consequences if it failed to accept Washington’s terms for a peace deal. Pakistan has been at the forefront of a multilateral initiative aimed at bringing the US and Iran to the negotiating table.

While Andrabi declined to specify the nature of the obstacles hindering Pakistan’s efforts, he emphasized Islamabad’s commitment to creating conditions conducive to “meaningful negotiations among relevant stakeholders.” The US and Iran have reportedly expressed confidence in Pakistan’s role as a neutral intermediary in the process.

In a recent phone conversation, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman engaged in a discussion centered around the need for accelerated diplomatic and political initiatives to bring an end to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

According to a Kremlin statement, both leaders concurred on the necessity of swiftly halting hostilities and bolstering diplomatic efforts to achieve a lasting resolution to the crisis. This call for action comes on the heels of Ukraine’s recent agreement with Saudi Arabia to establish a joint air defence system, a move aimed at countering the threat posed by Iranian drone attacks.

The Ukrainian government, which has been defending against Russia’s full-scale assault since 2022, has sought to leverage its expertise in intercepting Russian drones to assist Gulf nations under attack by the same Iranian-designed Shahed drones. In exchange, Ukraine has proposed trading its relatively affordable drone interceptors for the more expensive air-defence missiles used by the Gulf states to counter Iranian drone threats.

During their conversation, Putin and Saudi Arabia’s crown prince also underscored the adverse impact of the crisis on global energy security, citing problems with energy production and transportation stemming from the conflict.

Let’s get you up to speed:

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has announced plans to send his personal envoy to the Middle East in a bid to bolster diplomatic efforts, as he reiterates his call for a swift and peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict.
In a stark warning to the United States and Israel, Guterres emphasized that the time has come to bring an end to the devastating war that has already caused immense human suffering and severe economic repercussions. He also urged Iran to cease its attacks on neighboring countries, highlighting the urgent need for a peaceful resolution.
Guterres, who has consistently advocated for a swift end to the conflict, cautioned that the situation is on the brink of escalating into a larger, more far-reaching war. The conflict’s far-reaching impact is already being felt globally, he noted.

A grim update from Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health reveals a staggering 1,345 fatalities and 4,040 injuries resulting from Israeli strikes on the country since March 2. According to the latest figures from the Health Emergency Operations Center, a total of 125 children and 91 women have lost their lives in the conflict. The ministry’s daily report highlights a particularly distressing 24-hour period, during which 27 lives were lost and 105 people were injured.

Iranian officials are interpreting US President Donald Trump’s assertions as misleading, given the ongoing barrage of attacks by Iran against Israel and the surrounding region. Concurrently, Tehran’s influence appears to be resurgent through its proxy forces, including Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, and factions in Iraq. This perceived disconnect suggests that Trump’s administration may be increasingly entangled in the complexities of the Iranian conflict, potentially rendering a swift exit challenging. Reports have emerged of a devastating attack on the historic Pasteur Institute in Tehran, a renowned center for vaccine development that has been a cornerstone of the country’s healthcare sector for over a century. The institute suffered complete destruction. Additionally, a critical bridge connecting Karaj to Tehran was targeted, just a day after Trump’s warning to strike bridges within the country. These incidents are part of a broader pattern of violence affecting multiple cities in the region.