US-Israel Iran War Live Updates

Indonesia’s UN envoy Umar Hadi has been joined by ambassadors from over 60 nations in issuing a unified condemnation of the relentless assaults on UNIFIL personnel in Lebanon. The joint declaration specifically denounces the recent violence that resulted in the tragic loss of three Indonesian peacekeepers.

Details of the joint statement reveal that peacekeepers from France, Ghana, Indonesia, Nepal, and Poland sustained injuries in the recent attacks in southern Lebanon. The participating countries also expressed profound concern over the dire humanitarian situation in Lebanon, characterized by substantial civilian casualties, widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure, and the displacement of more than one million people.

Preliminary UN investigations suggest that one peacekeeper’s death on March 29 was likely caused by Israeli tank fire, while two others lost their lives the following day due to an explosive device that the UN believes was probably planted by Hezbollah.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi revealed plans to draw down oil from emergency stockpiles, commencing in early May. This move comes as Japan, heavily reliant on the Middle East for 95 percent of its oil supply, continues to utilize its strategic reserves. The country initially began releasing oil from its stockpiles in mid-March. In total, Japan will make approximately 50 days’ worth of oil consumption available. As of April 6, the nation’s oil reserves stood at a substantial 230 days’ supply.

Human Rights Watch, a prominent New York-based human rights group, has documented a pattern of deliberate destruction by Israeli forces targeting nine bridges spanning the Litani River and its tributary between March 12 and April 8. This devastating campaign has left only one operational crossing, the Qasmieh bridge, connecting southern Lebanon to the rest of the country.

According to a recent report by HRW, Israeli forces systematically dismantled or severely impaired all primary bridges connecting areas south of the Litani River to the rest of the country between March 12 and April 8. The organisation’s analysis drew upon online videos and photographs of the strikes on the nine bridges and the road leading to Al-Khardali bridge.

Israeli officials, including far-right minister Bezalel Smotrich, have previously threatened to extend Israeli control up to the Litani River, which Smotrich has described as a crucial waterway and “the new Israeli border”.

As the haze of destruction begins to lift, the full extent of the devastation wrought by Israel’s aerial bombardment of Beirut is slowly emerging, with scenes of charred buildings and massive piles of rubble now starkly visible.

Despite Iran’s apparent efforts to ease tensions with a ceasefire, Israel remains resolute in its stance against Hezbollah, viewing the militant group as a formidable threat akin to Iran itself. For many Israelis, the danger posed by Hezbollah is particularly acute, given the group’s ability to launch rocket attacks into northern Israel, putting approximately 1.5 million people in the region at risk.

Several communities situated near the border have been largely abandoned, with residents holding out hope for a return to their homes. The escalation of rocket fire across the border, which intensified late Thursday and continued into the early hours of Friday, serves as a stark reminder of Hezbollah’s capabilities. The strategic port city of Haifa, a frequent target in the five-week conflict, has come under rocket attack, marking the first such incident since the Iran-US ceasefire agreement took effect on Wednesday morning. This development holds significant implications, given Haifa’s proximity to the border.

A UNICEF spokesperson has expressed grave concern over the escalating conflict in Lebanon, where the relentless barrage of Israeli airstrikes is exacting a heart-wrenching toll on the country’s most vulnerable population: its children.
In a matter of minutes on the previous day, as news of a fragile ceasefire agreement briefly kindled optimism across the nation, Israeli air raids ravaged Lebanon, leaving a trail of death and destruction in their wake. According to reports, 33 young lives were lost, while 153 more were left severely injured.
The relentless bombardments have left children and their families reeling, with entire communities ravaged by the sheer force of the attacks. The latest wave of bloodshed brings the total number of children either killed or injured in Lebanon since March 2 to a staggering 600.
UNICEF is receiving disturbing accounts of children being rescued from the rubble, while others remain unaccounted for, separated from their families in the chaos. The agency is also sounding the alarm over the plight of the estimated 390,000 children among the over one million people displaced across Lebanon.
UNICEF is adamant that international humanitarian law is crystal clear: civilians, including children, must be safeguarded at all times. The agency is calling on all parties to the conflict to take immediate action to prevent further harm, particularly the use of explosive weapons with wide-area effects in densely populated areas.

The Asian Development Bank has issued a warning that the ongoing Middle East conflict is poised to have a profound impact on the Asia Pacific region’s economic trajectory, with growth expected to slow and inflation on the rise.
According to the bank’s president, Masato Kanda, the conflict represents a significant challenge to the region’s economic resilience, underscoring the need for vigilance and strategic planning.
ADB analysis suggests that if the conflict persists into the third quarter of this year, the region’s growth rate could dip to 4.7 percent, a decline from last year’s 5.4 percent. Conversely, inflation is forecast to surge to 5.6 percent in 2026, up from 3.0 percent in the previous year.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has touched down in Singapore as part of a high-level diplomatic mission aimed at bolstering the country’s fuel supplies, which have been severely impacted by the ongoing Iran conflict. The Southeast Asian nation is a crucial partner for Australia, with the latter relying on imports for approximately 90 percent of its refined petroleum products – a significant portion of which originates from Singapore. Notably, Australia is also the second-largest supplier of liquefied natural gas to the Asian financial hub, underscoring the strategic importance of the relationship.

As part of his visit, Albanese will convene with Singaporean leader Lawrence Wong on Friday following a tour of Jurong Island, home to Singapore’s key oil refining facilities. Albanese emphasized the mutual benefits of cooperation, stating, “It is in both our countries’ interests to engage with each other to ensure we remain reliable suppliers.” Meanwhile, back in Australia, a worrying trend has emerged, with a reported 3 percent of service stations running out of diesel this week.

Amidst the impending ceasefire negotiations between the US and Iran, countless individuals, including this Iranian woman, are left to pick up the pieces after her residence was targeted in a US-Israeli airstrike.

We’re providing comprehensive coverage of the escalating tensions between the United States, Israel, and Iran, as well as Israel’s military operations in Lebanon. Our ongoing coverage will offer real-time news and expert analysis from the region and its global implications. For a detailed account of the latest developments, please refer to our reports from April 8.