US-Israel Iran War Live Updates

Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan Reza Amiri Moghadam seems to have removed a social media post from his X account, which had initially announced the arrival of an Iranian delegation in Islamabad for a meeting with US negotiators to discuss ceasefire talks.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong has expressed deep concern over the escalating humanitarian situation in Lebanon, citing the ongoing conflict as a major contributor to the crisis. In a joint statement with six other nations, Wong urged an immediate halt to hostilities in the region and emphasized the need to safeguard humanitarian workers.

The statement, co-signed by Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia, Jordan, Sierra Leone, and the United Kingdom, strongly condemned the recent attacks on UN peacekeepers and the heightened risks faced by aid personnel in southern Lebanon. While welcoming the ceasefire agreement between the United States, Israel, and Iran, the statement made no mention of ongoing Israeli bombardments of Lebanon, which have persisted despite the announced truce.

In a somber atmosphere, Antoine Zoghbi, the president of the Lebanese Red Cross, conveyed his distress in his office at the Hotel-Dieu de France Hospital in Beirut, where he witnessed the aftermath of Israel’s most destructive assault on Lebanon since the war’s commencement in early March.
Zoghbi expressed his sentiments to Al Jazeera, stating that the recent attack was unprecedented due to its sudden and unannounced nature. “They targeted multiple areas simultaneously, unleashing a devastating impact that left a trail of suffering,” he lamented.
The Lebanese Red Cross, the sole blood bank supplier to Lebanon’s hospitals, has issued a public appeal for blood donations in response to the dire need following Israel’s Wednesday strikes, which claimed hundreds of lives, particularly in hospitals overwhelmed by patients.
According to Zoghbi, many citizens responded promptly to the call for blood donations following the attacks. “In times of crisis, the Lebanese people consistently demonstrate solidarity and resilience,” he observed.

Footage captured by Al Jazeera has confirmed the extent of destruction caused by an Israeli military operation in the Chyah suburb of southern Beirut and the town of Al Duwair in the Nabatieh District.
According to eyewitness accounts, buildings have been reduced to rubble, and others have suffered significant damage, including shattered windows and blown-out walls.
The National News Agency reports that the Al Duwair raid specifically targeted a two-storey residence at the town’s eastern entrance, resulting in a fire that was subsequently brought under control by civil defence teams.

According to Charles Kupchan, a prominent expert at the Council on Foreign Relations, Donald Trump’s inner circle of advisors was largely comprised of individuals chosen for their unwavering loyalty rather than their expertise. This, Kupchan suggests, has led to a reluctance among Trump’s advisors to challenge or contradict him, even when their counsel might be crucial. In a recent interview with Al Jazeera, Kupchan expressed his conviction that Trump’s decision to launch a war on Iran was based on an unrealistic expectation of a swift and decisive outcome, with the Iranian government collapsing under the weight of popular unrest. However, this scenario failed to materialize. Kupchan also questioned the breadth of information and diverse perspectives that Trump has access to when making key decisions, citing the president’s reputation for disregarding expert advice in favor of his own instincts. As Kupchan noted, Trump’s populist appeal was built on his willingness to challenge the status quo and defy conventional wisdom, but this approach has ultimately led to significant difficulties in the context of the Iran conflict.

French Foreign Minister Jean Noel Barrot has joined a chorus of European voices urging that a US-Iran ceasefire be extended to Lebanon, where Israeli military operations have resulted in significant loss of life. According to Reuters, Barrot expressed France’s condemnation of Israel’s recent large-scale strikes in Lebanon, emphasizing that these attacks must be encompassed within the terms of the US-Iran ceasefire agreement. This development comes as Israel launched a wave of attacks in Lebanon the previous day, resulting in the deaths of at least 254 people. Notably, US Vice-President JD Vance had stated that the US did not commit to halting Israeli attacks on Lebanon, despite Pakistan’s assertion that Lebanon was included in the ceasefire.

According to Palestinian news agency Wafa, Israeli military operations have been conducted in various locations within the occupied West Bank, resulting in a notable escalation of tensions in the region.
The agency reported that raids took place in Jenin and the rural village of Tayasir, situated just east of Tubas. A female resident was apprehended and a male individual was subjected to physical assault in the city of Nablus.

Reports from the southern Beirut suburb of Chyah and the southern town of Al Duwair have emerged following an Israeli military operation.
Eyewitness accounts corroborated by Al Jazeera footage reveal widespread destruction, with numerous structures reduced to rubble and others sustaining significant damage, including shattered walls and windows.
According to the National News Agency, the Al Duwair raid specifically targeted a two-storey dwelling at the town’s eastern entrance, leaving it in ruins. The assault also ignited a blaze, which local civil defence units were able to contain and extinguish.
Visuals of the aftermath, authenticated by Al Jazeera, depict extensive damage at the impacted site, as documented in the translation: “Raid on Al-Duwair town, Nabatieh District”.

The Israeli military has made it clear that its campaign against Lebanon will not be deterred by any ceasefire, with a primary objective of distinguishing between the fronts with Iran and Hezbollah.
This stance has been evident in the relentless bombardment of Lebanon since the initial announcement, which has left a trail of destruction in its wake.
In response, Hezbollah has launched a limited rocket barrage, a move that Israel sees as an opportunity to undermine efforts towards de-escalation in the region.
Israel’s assessment of Hezbollah’s capabilities has undergone a significant shift, with the military now acknowledging that the group has made a robust recovery from the previous round of fighting, boasting hundreds of rockets and thousands of fighters at its disposal.
This newfound understanding is being used to justify continued military action against Hezbollah.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Netanyahu is facing mounting pressure on the domestic front, where his promises of swift and decisive victories have begun to unravel.
His failure to achieve regime change, dismantle Iran’s missile programme, and seize its enriched uranium has raised concerns that his inability to deliver on these goals may prove more damaging than his inability to prevent the October 7 attacks.
As elections draw near and opposition leader Yair Lapid intensifies his criticism, Netanyahu’s ability to navigate this challenging situation will be a defining factor in the weeks ahead.

According to the latest figures from Israel’s Health Ministry, a staggering 7,451 individuals have been rushed to hospitals since the outbreak of the conflict with Iran. Currently, 118 patients are still receiving treatment, with two of them listed in a critical state.