US-Israel Iran War Live Updates

In a televised address to the American public on Wednesday, President Trump warned that Iran would be reduced to a state of prehistoric ruins if it failed to accept a peace deal that met Washington’s conditions to bring an end to the escalating conflict, now in its fifth week.
The term ‘reduced to prehistoric ruins’ is commonly understood to signify a comprehensive bombing campaign aimed at annihilating a nation’s infrastructure, leaving no remnants of modern civilization intact – including hospitals, schools, universities, industries, businesses, hotels, skyscrapers, or parks.
Such an action, were it to be carried out, would likely constitute a genocidal act under international law, as exemplified by Israel’s tactics in Gaza.
However, neither the threat nor the US’s willingness to engage in such a campaign is a new phenomenon.
In fact, the phrase ‘reduced to prehistoric ruins’ is often attributed to Curtis LeMay, a US Air Force officer who oversaw the destruction of Japanese cities during World War II.
In the early 1950s, US-led forces conducted a carpet bombing campaign against North Korea, resulting in the destruction of 95 percent of its power generation capacity and more than 80 percent of its buildings.
LeMay later advocated for the US to bomb Vietnam back to a ‘state of prehistoric devastation’ during the war in Southeast Asia. In 1972, US President Richard Nixon ordered the carpet bombing of North Vietnam, which was marketed to the American public as the ‘Christmas bombing’ campaign.
Following the September 11 attacks, the US threatened to reduce Pakistan to ‘prehistoric ruins’ if it did not join the war against the Taliban, according to then-Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf.

A rocket attack in Kiryat Shmona has left two individuals, one 85 years old and the other 34, with non-life-threatening injuries caused by shrapnel, according to a report from Israel’s Channel 12. A photograph taken in the aftermath shows a house in the city with significant damage to its walls.

A devastating aerial assault has struck the town of Kfar Sir in southern Lebanon, resulting in the tragic loss of at least three lives, according to the Lebanese National News Agency. The agency also reported multiple air raids in the nearby towns of Yatar, Harouf, and Zibdine. This latest escalation comes as part of a broader conflict, with Israeli forces intensifying their military operations in Lebanon amidst their ongoing ground invasion of southern regions.

In a press briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning emphasized the need for an immediate halt to military activities, following a warning from former US President Trump that Iran could face significant military strikes in the coming weeks. Mao Ning expressed her concern that escalating conflicts would not serve the interests of any party involved, stating that military actions cannot provide a lasting solution to the crisis.

The far-reaching implications of the US-Israeli conflict with Iran are being felt by South Asian farmers, whose livelihoods are inextricably linked to global events unfolding thousands of kilometres away.
A critical chokepoint in international trade, the Strait of Hormuz, is at the epicentre of the crisis, as one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas passes through this narrow shipping lane, a key ingredient in the production of nitrogen-based fertilisers.
Disruptions to fertiliser supplies can have a devastating impact on crop yields, drive up costs, and push up food prices, posing a significant threat to the region’s agricultural sector.
Pakistani wheat farmer Muneer Ahmad warns that the escalating crisis could have far-reaching consequences for his community, saying, “If fertiliser prices rise, it will affect everyone here.”

Hossein Kermanpour, a spokesperson for Iran’s Health Ministry, has confirmed that the Pasteur Institute of Iran, a renowned medical research centre established in 1920, was the target of a recent attack, resulting in significant structural damage.

A high-ranking Hezbollah official, Haj Youssef Ismail Hashem, met a fatal end in a targeted strike on Wednesday, leaving the militant group reeling. According to the Israeli military, Hashem was the commander of Hezbollah’s southern front, a position of significant strategic importance.
The attack, which targeted Hashem’s vehicle in Beirut, represents a severe breach of Hezbollah’s intelligence and security protocols. In stark contrast, the situation in the south of the country remains volatile, with Hezbollah continuing to launch a barrage of rockets into northern Israel. Israel’s Army Radio reports that at least 70 rockets have been fired since midnight, with many intercepted and others causing minimal damage. However, the relentless rocket fire has forced residents to seek shelter and, in some cases, abandon their homes.
As Israel presses ahead with its ground invasion, Hezbollah is putting up a fierce resistance in the south. In recent hours, the invasion has slowed, with Hezbollah countering with intensified attacks, including ambushes and antitank fire. While the assassination of Hashem has dealt a significant blow to Hezbollah, the group’s determination to defend its territory remains unwavering, at least for the time being.

In a somber display of solidarity, a massive crowd of Iranians converged on Tehran yesterday to pay their respects to a fallen Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) naval commander, who lost his life in an Israeli airstrike. The solemn procession served as a poignant backdrop for the 47th anniversary of the Islamic Republic’s founding, a milestone marked on April 1, 1979, following the pivotal revolution that brought an end to the 2,500-year reign of the monarchy. As the mourners gathered, they issued a resolute pledge to continue their resistance, undeterred by stern warnings from the United States. “We will persevere, no matter the duration of this conflict,” declared Moussa Nowruzi, a 57-year-old pensioner, his words echoing a steadfast commitment to the cause. “Our resolve will only grow stronger with each passing day.”

With the US-Israel conflict in Iran causing a ripple effect on the Gulf region’s maritime routes, Pakistan’s ports have stepped up as key transit points, according to the country’s federal minister for maritime affairs. Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry revealed to Al Jazeera that the ports of Karachi and Gwadar have capitalized on the situation by drawing in increased transshipment traffic as safer alternatives.

Chaudhry pointed out that Karachi port achieved a remarkable milestone in March by handling more transshipment cargo in a single month than the entire year 2025. Meanwhile, Gwadar port successfully received its first transshipment vessel carrying general cargo. The Pakistani minister highlighted that the country is now handling a diverse range of cargo, including energy cargo, containerized cargo, transshipment, and LCL, as well as specialized cargo such as vehicles, perishables, and brake belts.

The benefits of Pakistan’s ports are being reaped by regional transit markets, international shipping lines, and countries seeking alternatives to the disrupted Gulf transshipment hub. The Iran war has had a devastating impact on global energy markets and maritime routes, with South Asia being one of the worst-hit regions due to the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

Chaudhry emphasized that the situation in the Gulf has exposed Pakistan’s energy supply vulnerabilities, stranding vessels, and driving up freight costs. He noted that containers’ cargoes have been delayed due to reliance on Gulf hubs, resulting in shipping costs exceeding $5,000 per container.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has asserted that recent attacks on US-linked steel facilities in the Gulf region serve as a warning, with the threat of escalated retaliation if Iranian industries are targeted again.

In a statement disseminated through Iranian media outlets, the IRGC confirmed that it had launched strikes against steel sites in Abu Dhabi, UAE, and aluminium facilities in Bahrain, in response to previous attacks that took place over the weekend.

According to the IRGC’s statement, these latest strikes are a harbinger of more severe consequences to come, with the threat of a more devastating response directed at the main infrastructure of the occupying regime and US economic interests in the region, should Iranian industries be subjected to further attacks.

The IRGC has previously issued warnings of this nature, dating back to the commencement of the conflict, with repeated threats to target US-linked or US-owned infrastructure in the Gulf.