US-Israel Iran War Live Updates

Despite a six-month-old US-facilitated truce, Gaza is grappling with a severe bread shortage caused by crippling shortages of flour, fuel, and cash. The ongoing Israeli military campaigns in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, coupled with its recent actions against Iran and Lebanon, have exacerbated the crisis.

Lebanon’s government is making a bold move by advocating for direct negotiations with Israel. However, this initiative faces a significant hurdle, as Hezbollah has consistently maintained its stance against engaging in talks with Israel, particularly when under attack. Consequently, any proposed talks would likely exclude Hezbollah’s participation, in line with the party’s decision. The key question now revolves around Israel’s response to this development, considering its past reluctance to engage in discussions that don’t involve Hezbollah. Furthermore, the US will also be closely watched for its stance on this matter, as its support or opposition could significantly impact the prospects of any dialogue between Lebanon and Israel.

Following Israel’s decision to lift a state of emergency, the corruption trial of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to resume on Sunday, according to a court spokesperson. This development comes after the judicial system returned to normal operations. The trial, which will take place on Sundays and Wednesdays, will continue as usual, as stated by the Israeli court in a recent announcement.

Netanyahu, who holds the distinction of being the first Israeli prime minister to face criminal charges, has consistently denied allegations of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust that were first brought against him in 2019 after a lengthy investigation. His trial, which began in 2020 and could potentially result in jail time, has been subject to repeated delays due to his official duties, with no definitive conclusion in sight.

No hostile aerial attacks were reported by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, and Oman on April 9, marking the first extended period without such incidents from Iran since the conflict commenced on February 28. According to the UAE’s Defence Ministry, the country remained “unscathed by aerial threats” throughout the day. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Oman’s militaries failed to issue any reports of missile or drone attacks, a stark contrast to previous days’ events. Bahrain’s military released an updated count of missiles and drones launched by Iran during the war, but did not indicate any occurrences on April 9.

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has reached out to his Pakistani counterpart, Shehbaz Sharif, seeking confirmation that Lebanon is part of the Iran war ceasefire, following a devastating Israeli assault that claimed over 200 lives in the country.

According to a statement from Salam’s office, the Prime Minister made a phone call to Sharif, commending Pakistan’s efforts in securing the truce and requesting that Islamabad verify Lebanon’s inclusion in the ceasefire to prevent a repeat of the Israeli attacks that occurred the previous day.

It has been stated by both Israel and the US that Lebanon is not included in the ceasefire, with Israel announcing its intention to continue its military operations. Meanwhile, Iran’s parliamentary speaker has issued a warning, asserting that Tehran views Lebanon as an integral component of the ceasefire and is prepared to respond strongly if the country is excluded, coinciding with growing international pressure for Lebanon to be included in the truce.

A nationwide day of mourning has been declared in Lebanon following a brutal onslaught by Israeli forces that resulted in the loss of at least 203 lives and left over 1,000 people severely injured on Wednesday.

In an in-depth conversation with Al Jazeera Arabic, Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar weighed in on the devastating impact of Iran’s retaliatory blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, describing the current global energy crisis as “the mother of all crises”. According to Bayraktar, Turkey’s forward-thinking investments in energy and infrastructure, combined with its unique geographical position bridging Asia and Europe, and the presence of significant oil and natural gas reserves in its vicinity, have positioned the country as a linchpin in regional energy dynamics. He highlighted Turkey’s strategic advantage, citing the country’s control over two critical pipelines, the “Blue Stream” and the “TurkStream”, as well as its substantial strategic energy reserves, which boast a 72 percent capacity, in stark contrast to Europe’s 28 percent.

Despite the recent ceasefire, Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom has yet to rescind its decision to withdraw its personnel from the Bushehr nuclear facility in Iran, according to the company’s CEO, Alexey Likhachev. In a statement to the press, Likhachev emphasized that the evacuation plans remain intact, at least for the time being. “We have not altered our stance on the evacuation,” he noted, “and it’s premature to consider sending our personnel back to the site.” The situation, he added, remains fluid, with the ceasefire’s outcome still uncertain. As of now, 611 of the original 639 Rosatom staff members have been safely evacuated via Armenia, while approximately 50 volunteers continue to work at the facility. The Bushehr plant, Iran’s sole operational nuclear power plant, has been targeted four times since the US-Israel conflict with Iran commenced on February 28.

With the US-Iran talks slated to take place in Islamabad on Saturday, local authorities have revealed a preliminary lineup of key figures expected to play a pivotal role in the negotiations, aimed at brokering a lasting peace between the two nations.

A sense of unease has gripped Washington as the prospect of a ceasefire collapse looms, even before negotiations in Islamabad can take place to clarify the agreement’s specifics. This anxiety stems from a statement by US Vice President JD Vance, suggesting that the Iranians believed the ceasefire encompassed Lebanon. As a result, concerns are mounting over the narrow scope of the ceasefire, which appears to be incomplete and precarious.

The Capitol Hill community is particularly troubled by the rift between the US and its ally Pakistan regarding the terms of the ceasefire. Pakistan’s assertion that Lebanon was explicitly included in the agreement directly contradicts the US stance, fueling international apprehension. Just a day after President Trump met with NATO’s Mark Rutte, the US leader is once again criticizing NATO, stating on Truth Social that “none of these individuals, including our own, have demonstrated a satisfactory understanding unless they are subjected to pressure.” This development has intensified pressure on Capitol Hill for Congress to exercise its authority to rein in the president. However, Republican lawmakers remain steadfast in their assertion that Lebanon constitutes a distinct theater of operation.