US-Israel Iran War Live Updates

In a recent address to foreign ambassadors and heads of international organisations in the Iranian capital, Tehran, Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Majid Takht Ravanchi expressed Iran’s stance on the upcoming US-Iran talks scheduled to take place in Islamabad.

During a two-day trip to Doha, Indian oil and gas minister Hardeep Singh Puri held a meeting with Qatar’s Minister of State of Energy and QatarEnergy CEO Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi. Puri’s discussions with Al-Kaabi encompassed various facets of bilateral ties between the two nations, including high-level interactions, trade, investment, energy, cultural exchange, and people-to-people connections. Puri also expressed optimism for a swift return of peace and stability in the region, with the intention of further solidifying their countries’ diplomatic relations. According to Puri’s X post, Qatar’s energy minister reaffirmed Doha’s commitment to serving as a dependable energy provider and expressed enthusiasm for bolstering energy cooperation with India.

Ireland’s Foreign Minister Helen McEntee has expressed outrage over the devastating Israeli strikes in Lebanon, resulting in over 200 fatalities, and is urging an extension of the US-Iran ceasefire to include the war-torn country. Following a phone conversation with Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi, McEntee took to X to condemn the brutal Israeli attacks, deeming them utterly unacceptable.

Reports from Al Jazeera Arabic correspondents in the field indicate that an Israeli military operation resulted in separate strikes on the town of al-Tayri in southern Lebanon and the town of Sahmar in the western Bekaa region of eastern Lebanon.

According to the Lebanon-based National News Agency (NNA), a recent Israeli air strike has resulted in damage to multiple ambulances and firetrucks in the Deir Qanoun Ras al-Ain area of southern Lebanon. This incident comes as part of ongoing reports that the Israeli military has been warning of potential strikes against ambulances in the region, alleging that Hezbollah has been utilizing them for military purposes, although no concrete evidence has been provided to substantiate these claims.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has instructed his cabinet to initiate ceasefire discussions with Lebanon at the earliest opportunity. This decision comes in response to Lebanon’s repeated appeals for direct talks, as conveyed by Netanyahu in a statement issued in Hebrew on Thursday. Despite this development, Israel’s military operations against Hezbollah are ongoing, sparking concerns among analysts that the escalating violence may jeopardize the upcoming peace talks between the United States and Iran, scheduled to commence in Pakistan on Saturday. On Friday morning, both the Israeli and Lebanese governments expressed their willingness to engage in peace negotiations, but Israel’s continued bombardment of Lebanon has raised doubts about its true intentions.

In a high-level meeting between UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the British leader reiterated his strong condemnation of Iran’s assault on Qatar, reaffirming his nation’s commitment to safeguarding the Gulf state’s autonomy, security, and tranquility.
According to a statement released by the Qatari Emiri Diwan, both leaders expressed their approval of the US-Iran ceasefire, hailing it as a crucial step towards defusing tensions and bolstering regional stability.
The two leaders also emphasized the need for concerted international efforts to achieve a lasting peace agreement, one that would ensure the security of the region, maintain the integrity of global supply chains, and preserve the uninterrupted flow of energy through the Strait of Hormuz, ultimately contributing to enhanced global security and peace.

According to the Israeli military, a total of 40 Hezbollah combatants have lost their lives in southern Lebanon over the course of the past week, with a further 50 infrastructure targets brought to rubble.

A recent IDF statement revealed that the 91st Division had pinpointed a group of fighters operating in close proximity to Israeli troops in the region, which they had identified as a “cell” earlier in the week. One of the fighters, who had taken refuge in a nearby thicket, was fatally struck, while a vehicle carrying the others as they attempted to make a hasty retreat was subsequently hit.

Expressing deep unease over the escalating situation in Lebanon, India has highlighted the alarming toll of civilian lives lost due to Israeli military operations in the region.

Indian foreign ministry official Randhir Jaiswal expressed India’s growing apprehension, citing its own involvement in UN peacekeeping efforts through UNIFIL and its vested interest in maintaining peace and stability in Lebanon.

Jaiswal emphasized the importance of adhering to international norms and upholding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations, a principle that India holds dear.

Despite a recent ceasefire agreement, the city of Tehran remains on edge, with many residents still reeling from the aftermath of weeks-long Israeli and American airstrikes. The fragile truce has brought a sense of relief to some, but widespread fears persist that the conflict between the US and Israel and Iran is far from resolved.

A university student, who wished to remain anonymous, shared his thoughts via WhatsApp audio note with the AP news agency, saying that the ceasefire has given him a renewed sense of purpose. “It’s as if I’ve been given a second chance,” he said. “Everyone around me is feeling the same way – we’re all really happy about the situation.”

However, the student’s optimism is tempered by the devastating impact of the war on Tehran. “The city has been scarred,” he noted, and many are worried that the fighting will resume. The student’s words are echoed by Maryam Saeedpoor, a photographer who lives in downtown Tehran. Saeedpoor attempted to find solace in painting during the war, but the constant bombardment left her shaken. “I tried to distract myself, but the sound of explosions was always there, and it’s left me with a lasting impact,” she said via WhatsApp audio note.

Saeedpoor fears that the war has caused irreparable damage to Iran’s industries and infrastructure, which had helped the country weather decades of international sanctions. “Tehran was once a vibrant, beautiful city,” she said, “but now it’s a place of sadness and pain. The strikes have left a lasting scar, and it’s heartbreaking to see so many innocent lives lost.”