US-Israel Iran War Live Updates

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has unequivocally denounced Israel’s ongoing military strikes in Lebanon, deeming them unacceptable and urging an immediate halt. Despite expressing reservations about determining whether the attacks contravene the ceasefire agreement, Starmer emphasized that the Israeli actions are fundamentally misguided. His remarks came during a visit to the Gulf region, where he has been engaging in high-level talks with regional leaders.

Economist Steve Keen has sounded the alarm over the potential for a global food crisis, citing the critical role of fertiliser supplies in maintaining crop yields. With the Gulf region accounting for nearly a third of the world’s seaborne fertiliser trade, disruptions to these shipments pose a significant threat to global food security.

Keen pointed out that the absence of fertiliser would directly impact crop yields, making it impossible to sustain the current global population. According to a recent UNCTAD report, the Gulf region exports approximately 16 million tonnes of fertiliser by sea annually, with a substantial portion passing through the Strait of Hormuz, which is now under Iranian control.

Keen’s projections indicate that if fertiliser deliveries are delayed, global food output could decline by as much as 30 percent, exacerbating the existing food security challenges.

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has taken to social media to denounce Israel as a malevolent force that poses a grave threat to humanity, citing its alleged atrocities in Lebanon as a stark example of genocide. His scathing critique comes despite ongoing peace talks, with Asif pointing out a disturbing pattern of violence perpetrated by Israel against innocent civilians in Gaza, Iran, and now Lebanon.

In a recent conversation with Iranian President Pezeshkian, Turkiye’s leader Erdogan emphasized that negotiations between the US and Iran should strive for a durable and lasting peace, accompanied by stability.

Reports are emerging that the Israeli Defense Forces have initiated a military operation targeting Hezbollah’s strategic strongholds in Lebanon, with the aim of disrupting the militant group’s capabilities. Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.

According to Hassan Ahmadian, a University of Tehran professor, Iran’s regional allies, including Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis, are united in their opposition to US and Israeli aggression despite their individual national interests. Ahmadian points out that labeling these groups as Iran’s proxies oversimplifies their complex relationships, as they all face a common strategic threat from the US and Israel.

According to a Ministry of Energy spokesperson, Saudi Arabia has temporarily ceased operations at multiple energy sites in response to a series of Iranian attacks.

Reports from Kuwait indicate that the country’s air defence systems have been actively countering drones that have breached its airspace. According to a statement from the Defence Ministry’s official spokesperson, these drones are posing a threat to critical infrastructure, specifically targeting a number of vital facilities.

Sources close to the Lebanese government have revealed that a ceasefire will be a non-negotiable prerequisite for any forthcoming negotiations. Meanwhile, Israel has maintained its stance on continuing military operations. In a recent development, the Israeli military issued a warning to evacuate the southern suburbs of Beirut, which have borne the brunt of aerial bombardments over the past five weeks. Ongoing strikes in the southern region are accompanied by the ominous presence of a propeller-powered drone hovering above Beirut. The devastating toll of the conflict is stark, with Wednesday’s attacks alone claiming 303 lives and leaving 1,150 people injured, according to the Health Ministry. As the people of Lebanon anxiously await a respite from the violence, a ceasefire remains the most pressing desire.

The sustainability of the ceasefire hangs precariously in the balance due to a profound lack of clarity, not only among the general public but also within the diplomatic circles of both Iran and the United States, according to Rob Geist Pinfold, a security expert at King’s College London.

Pinfold observed that the contentious nature of the agreement is compounded by a more fundamental issue: the widespread disagreement over what was actually agreed upon, or not agreed upon, by the parties involved. In a candid assessment, Pinfold revealed to Al Jazeera that the uncertainty surrounding the agreement is exacerbated by the fact that key stakeholders, including those who were directly affected by the conflict, were not adequately represented in the negotiations.