US-Israel Iran War Live Updates

In a scathing rebuke of President Trump’s foreign policy, Joe Kent, a former top national security official who resigned over the Iran conflict, is calling for an immediate withdrawal from the war. Kent’s plea came in response to Trump’s national address, in which he emphasized the importance of honoring fallen soldiers by learning from past mistakes. Kent countered by stating that the best time to exit a war of choice is now, before further American lives are lost. He emphasized that the US can declare victory at its own discretion, but only if Trump takes a firm stance against Israel’s involvement. According to Kent, the US and Israel have fundamentally different objectives, and the US must act accordingly to achieve a swift end to the conflict. As the first senior official in Trump’s administration to resign over the Iran war, Kent’s words carry significant weight.

The essence of Trump’s speech remains unchanged, with many Iranians perceiving it as a familiar refrain. The US President’s use of a confrontational tone, a hallmark of his rhetoric, has left Iranians unimpressed. Furthermore, his sweeping statements on the war’s trajectory and duration have been met with skepticism, as Iranians assert that Tehran will ultimately dictate the course of action and the length of the confrontation.

Contrary to Trump’s assertions, the Iranians view his vague language as a reflection of a lack of a clear strategy or plan. For ordinary Iranians, this ambiguity appears to be a recurring theme, underscoring the perception that the US has been operating without a cohesive plan from the outset.

Trump’s comments on the destruction of Iran and its people have been interpreted as a form of collective punishment, a notion that resonates deeply with Iranians. The ongoing air strikes have targeted critical infrastructure, including power plants, and it is the civilian population – comprising over 90 million people – that is bearing the brunt of the suffering, not the country’s elite.

The Council on American–Islamic Relations (CAIR) has issued a scathing rebuke of Trump’s inflammatory comments, labeling them as “anti-Muslim, racist, and dehumanising”. The organisation took particular umbrage with Trump’s assertion that he would send Iran “back to the Stone Ages”, viewing it as a grossly insensitive remark that disregards the dignity of the Iranian people.

CAIR has also condemned the Trump administration’s decision to permit Israel to engage in an aggressive military campaign against Iran, arguing that this action contravenes international law and the will of the American people. In a statement posted on X, the group called on lawmakers to take immediate action to prevent further escalation, urging them to pass a War Powers Resolution and cut off funding for the conflict. Furthermore, CAIR has demanded an investigation into Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for alleged war crimes, with the organisation hoping that Congress will take swift action when it reconvenes next week.

Reports from Channel 12 indicate a sudden escalation in tensions along the border, with multiple rockets launched from Lebanon targeting the northern Israeli town of Metula. According to eyewitnesses, some of the projectiles were successfully intercepted by Israel’s defense systems, while others landed in uninhabited areas, sparking widespread concern among local residents.

In a recent development, Saudi Arabia’s Defence Ministry confirmed that its air defences successfully intercepted and destroyed four drones in a swift operation.

According to a report from Reuters, the Shanghai Composite index, China’s benchmark, declined by 0.53 percent at the midday point. Meanwhile, the CSI300 Index, which tracks the country’s blue-chip stocks, suffered a 0.74 percent loss.
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index plummeted 1.1 percent, and the city’s tech sector saw a significant decline of 2.2 percent. This downturn comes as part of a broader trend, with stock markets in Japan and South Korea also experiencing losses. The recent surge in oil prices, which has exceeded $5, is attributed to the ongoing tensions between the US and Iran, following a pledge by US President Trump to maintain pressure on the country for the next two to three weeks.

UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric acknowledged that the inquiry into the tragic incident may require a considerable amount of time to complete, citing the complexities of the situation on the ground and difficulties in accessing the crime scenes.

Following in the footsteps of his predecessor, the US defence secretary recently posted on X a cryptic message that echoed Trump’s earlier warning to Iran, stating bluntly, “Back to the Stone Age.”

Breaking reports from Israeli authorities indicate a sudden escalation in tensions, with warnings issued of incoming missile strikes originating from Iranian territory.
According to Channel 12, a barrage of missiles has prompted widespread alarm systems to activate across northern Israel, with one of the projectiles allegedly designed to fragment upon impact.

The US president’s recent speech has garnered widespread support in Israel, largely due to its apparent commitment to maintaining a war-like posture for the foreseeable future, at least several weeks ahead.
This stance aligns closely with Benjamin Netanyahu’s own assessment of the situation, as he stated a couple of days ago that Israel has largely completed half of its objectives in the ongoing air campaign.
The scope of the operation has expanded to encompass Iran’s critical infrastructure, including civilian targets such as power plants and factories, which are essential to the country’s functioning and societal stability.
Israel’s intentions appear to be focused on severely crippling Iran’s capabilities, as Trump suggested, effectively relegating it to a pre-industrial era.
It is also likely that Israel will welcome Trump’s framing of the conflict, which centers on the October 7 attacks on Israel. Furthermore, Trump’s assertion that Iran’s acquisition of a nuclear weapon would have led to Israel’s demise resonates with a long-held argument often advanced by hawkish figures in Israel, including Netanyahu.