US-Israel Iran War Live Updates

In response to US President Trump’s ultimatum, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei has issued a stern warning, stating that Iran will not accept the continuous cycle of war, negotiations, and ceasefires. According to Baghaei, this pattern is catastrophic not only for Iran but for the entire region and beyond.

Baghaei emphasized that Iran will continue to defend itself as long as US-Israeli strikes persist, reiterating that Tehran maintains good neighbourly relations with its Gulf neighbours. However, he accused the US and Israel of exploiting these territories to launch military aggression against Iran.

Baghaei described the ongoing conflict as an unjust war imposed on the Iranian people, leaving them with no choice but to fight back strongly. He reiterated that Iran’s primary concern is not with its Gulf neighbours, but with the US and Israel’s aggressive actions.

Reports from Lebanon’s National News Agency confirm that a targeted air strike in the town of Kfar Sir resulted in the deaths of at least three individuals. The agency further disclosed that air raids also occurred in the nearby towns of Yatar, Harouf and Zibdine. This development comes amidst escalating hostilities in the region, where Israeli forces have intensified their military operations in Lebanon, coinciding with their ground invasion of southern Lebanon and the ongoing conflict in Iran.

According to Abdolmohar Mohammadkhani, a spokesperson for Tehran’s mayor, the city’s housing stock has been severely impacted, with damage spanning from minor issues like shattered glass and broken doors and windows to extensive reconstruction or full-scale renovations.
Mohammadkhani reported that approximately 1,869 families are currently facing housing challenges, while around 1,245 have been relocated to 23 designated residential areas.
So far, municipal authorities have initiated repairs on more than 4,000 residential units, either by taking on the work themselves or providing financial support.

According to Abed Abou Shhadeh, a Jaffa-based political analyst, Israeli leaders are facing a daunting challenge in bringing an end to the conflict with Iran, particularly given the prospect of a change in government, which US President Trump has hinted at being open to. This scenario is deemed “extremely problematic” by Abou Shhadeh, who notes that the current Israeli government has pledged an absolute victory by year’s end. However, Abou Shhadeh points out that the Israeli leadership appears to be lacking a clear strategy in Iran, while the US seems to be pushing for a swift resolution to the conflict.

Reports from Israel’s Channel 12 indicate that a rocket attack has prompted the activation of alarms in the towns of Hatzor HaGlilit and Amuka, situated in the Upper Galilee region.

In a press briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning emphasized the need for an immediate cessation of military activities, citing the escalating tensions between nations following a warning from former US President Trump that Iran would face severe repercussions within weeks.

The US embassy’s recent warning about potential threats in Baghdad remains somewhat ambiguous, with no clear catalyst identified. US forces have been engaged in clashes with PMF positions in Iraq for several weeks, yet the situation doesn’t seem to have escalated significantly. The sudden disappearance of 49-year-old US journalist Shelly Kittleson on Tuesday evening in Baghdad has raised concerns, with no updates on her whereabouts since then. Intelligence suggests that Kataib Hezbollah may be responsible for her abduction, although the motivations behind the incident remain unclear. It’s uncertain whether a ransom demand is involved or if the group is seeking concessions. Iraqi security forces have managed to apprehend one of the individuals involved in her kidnapping, but their investigation appears to have stalled. Authorities are currently focusing their efforts on the southern region of Baghdad. While the US government has maintained a low profile on the matter, sources indicate that backchannel negotiations with the Iraqi government have pledged a robust response if Shelly Kittleson is not released within the next 48 hours, as of Wednesday.

According to an Israeli military statement, a significant escalation of attacks unfolded in Tehran yesterday, with multiple strikes aimed at key infrastructure linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The assault, which was detailed on Telegram, included a base housing the IRGC ground force, a mobile command center occupied by senior commanders, and a ballistic missile storage facility in Tabriz. Notably, this marks the latest in a long series of operations targeting IRGC and military sites across Iran, with the Israeli military citing hundreds of such incidents since the conflict began.

The ripple effects of the escalating US-Israeli conflict with Iran are being felt thousands of kilometres away in South Asia, where farmers are grappling with the very real consequences of a distant crisis for their livelihoods.
A critical chokepoint in global energy trade, the Strait of Hormuz, is at the epicentre of the unfolding drama – a narrow waterway through which a significant proportion of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas is transported, including essential components for nitrogen-based fertilisers.
Disruptions to the supply of these fertilisers can have a devastating impact on crop yields, drive up costs, and ultimately push food prices higher, posing a significant threat to the region’s agricultural sector.
Pakistani wheat farmer Muneer Ahmad’s words are a stark reminder of the vulnerability of farmers to global events: “If fertiliser prices skyrocket, it will have far-reaching consequences for everyone in our community.”

According to a statement disseminated by Iranian media outlets, a spokesperson for the IRGC in Fars province, Iran, has asserted that their defence systems successfully intercepted and downed an Israeli Hermes 900 unmanned aerial vehicle as it flew over the city of Shiraz.