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 utter devastation if it failed to agree to a peace deal that met Washington’s terms to bring an end to the five-week conflict. The phrase ‘reduced to a state of utter devastation’ is commonly understood to signify a comprehensive bombing campaign aimed at annihilating a nation’s infrastructure, leaving behind none of the hallmarks of modern civilization – hospitals, schools, universities, industry, businesses, hotels, skyscrapers, or parks intact. Such an act, were it to be carried out, would likely constitute genocide under international law. However, neither the threat nor America’s willingness to engage in such a campaign are novel developments. The expression ‘reduced to a state of utter devastation’ 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 utter 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 a ‘state of utter devastation’ if it did not join the war against the Taliban, according to then-Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf.

Iran’s Khatam-al Anbiya military command headquarters is dismissing the notion that the US and Israel have a comprehensive understanding of the country’s military capabilities, vowing to escalate hostilities until its adversaries submit to a decisive defeat.

According to a statement carried by the Tasnim news agency, a spokesperson for the command emphasized that the US and Israel’s knowledge of Iran’s military prowess is woefully inadequate. “Your grasp of our military capabilities and resources is superficial,” the spokesperson declared. “You are oblivious to the full extent of our strategic capabilities.”

The spokesperson also downplayed the significance of the military sites targeted by the US and Israel, describing them as “insignificant” and “far from the epicenter of our military production.” He claimed that Iran’s strategic military production takes place in secret locations that remain unknown to the US and Israel.

The statement concluded with a warning of intensified and devastating military actions, with the spokesperson vowing to continue the conflict until the “permanent, definitive, and final surrender” of the US and Israel.

A recent rocket barrage from Lebanon has left a faint smudge of smoke hovering above a Galilee settlement, as captured by Israel’s Channel 12 in a released image.
According to reports, a flurry of over 30 rockets was unleashed into the area within a short time frame.
This latest attack constitutes the second such incident in the Galilee region within the past hour.

Reports are emerging of widespread alarm in the Gulf region, where civilians are growing increasingly anxious about the potential for their institutions and infrastructure to be targeted.
In the early hours of the morning, Dubai was shaken by the sound of alarms, while in Bahrain, multiple alerts rang out throughout the night and into the morning.
According to the Saudi Defence Ministry, its air defences have intercepted four drones in recent hours, in addition to a missile that was successfully intercepted earlier.
Meanwhile, the Kuwait International Airport has been hit for the seventh time in as many days, with authorities working to extinguish a fire that broke out late last night.
The frequency of these attacks across the Gulf is causing widespread concern, with Kuwaiti authorities warning of the threat posed by Iran-aligned factions in Iraq, which shares a border with Kuwait.
Statements from Kuwaiti authorities have consistently pointed to aggression from Iran and its affiliated armed groups as the primary source of concern.
In response to the escalating situation, the Kuwait National Bank has taken the precautionary measure of closing its headquarters, a decision that has been extended into a second day.
As the situation continues to unfold, residents of the Gulf region are voicing their desire for an end to the conflict, with many hoping for a swift resolution to the ongoing war.

A high-level alert has been sounded by the US embassy in Iraq, cautioning that Iran-backed militia groups in Baghdad are poised to launch attacks within a 24- to 48-hour timeframe.

The warning specifically highlights potential targets as US citizens, businesses, educational institutions, diplomatic missions, energy infrastructure, hotels, airports, and other locations perceived to be linked to the United States, as well as Iraqi institutions and civilian targets.

This warning comes on the heels of a recent incident in which a US journalist was abducted in Baghdad two days ago, prompting the militias to target Americans for kidnapping. In light of this escalating threat, the US embassy has strongly advised US citizens to depart Iraq immediately.

Donald Trump’s highly anticipated address to the nation on the Iran conflict failed to deliver any new information, with the US president instead relying on a rehearsed script that has been circulating for weeks.
The 20-minute speech, which was widely anticipated to contain a major announcement, instead offered a rehashing of familiar arguments that have become a daily staple of Trump’s rhetoric.
The US president reiterated four key points: the necessity of the war, its supposed victory, the need for continued action, and the promise of a swift conclusion – all of which have been staples of his public statements.
Trump’s remarks offered little insight into his strategy for bringing the conflict to a close or the terms of any potential deal with Iran.
In a statement that echoed his previous comments, Trump declared, “We’re nearing completion, and we’re making significant progress.”

According to Richard Schmierer, a seasoned diplomat who previously served as US ambassador to Oman, the American public has come to understand that the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has a direct impact on their daily lives, despite the relatively small amount of oil and gas the US imports through this vital waterway. As a result, energy costs have skyrocketed, leaving many to question President Trump’s assertion that the strait’s status is inconsequential to the US.

Schmierer also expressed optimism that a temporary ceasefire could pave the way for a negotiated solution that would allow shipping to resume through the strait. However, he cautioned that Israel’s unpredictable stance remains a wild card in the situation, given the country’s stated goals that may not align with US objectives, even if the US declares its own objectives have been met.

The sudden shift in investor sentiment has left markets reeling, as a surge in risk aversion takes hold following President Trump’s ominous warning to Iran. The MSCI’s benchmark index for Asian Pacific shares plummeted by nearly three-quarters of a percent at the opening of trade, after Trump hinted at a drastic escalation of tensions, likening Iran to a bygone era. This stark reversal comes on the heels of a remarkable development, where Iran had extended an olive branch to the US, issuing a heartfelt letter to Americans, expressing a desire for peaceful coexistence and asserting its right to self-defence. This conciliatory gesture had provided a glimmer of hope, lifting Wall Street stocks overnight, but Trump’s remarks have now sent investors scrambling for cover, causing uncertainty to resurface in markets. Notably, energy prices are once again on the rise, with Brent Crude currently trading at approximately $104 a barrel, after previously dipping below the psychologically significant threshold of $100 a barrel. As the situation remains fluid, market analysts caution that a resolution to the crisis could lead to a swift rebound in markets, particularly given the remarkable gains seen in Asian markets over the past couple of days, including a record rise in Asian markets for the year yesterday.

As of midday, the Shanghai Composite index SSEC experienced a decline of 0.53 percent, with the CSI300 Index CSI300 also registering a loss of 0.74 percent, according to Reuters.
The news outlet reported that the Hang Seng Index HSI in Hong Kong dropped 1.1 percent, with technology shares in HSTECH plummeting 2.2 percent.
This trend is consistent with the recent downturn in stock markets in Japan and South Korea, and comes as oil prices have surged by more than $5 a barrel following President Donald Trump’s commitment to intensify pressure on Iran over the next two to three weeks.

The essence of Trump’s speech remains unchanged, echoing a familiar refrain for Iranians. Trump’s speech was marked by a confrontational tone, a style Iranians have grown accustomed to. Beyond the tone, his sweeping statements on the war’s outcome and duration were made, but these claims are at odds with Iranian assertions that the course of action will be determined by Tehran, with the duration of the confrontation decided by Iranian leaders.

Iranians are left questioning whether Trump’s ambiguous language stems from a lack of strategy or a deliberate attempt to maintain ambiguity. To many Iranians, it appears to be a lack of planning from the outset. Trump’s comments on the destruction of Iran and its people have been interpreted as collective punishment by Iranians, including the country’s political establishment. The ongoing airstrikes have targeted power plants and civilian infrastructure, with ordinary citizens – the majority of the population, numbering over 90 million – bearing the brunt of the suffering.