US-Israel Iran War Live Updates

Imran Riza, the UN humanitarian coordinator in Lebanon, has relayed to Al Jazeera the escalating situation in Beirut, where the cacophony of ambulances has been a constant presence for the past three to four hours.
“We’ve just experienced another massive explosion in the heart of the city, followed by reports of a strike in a densely populated neighborhood, which suggests that the current casualty count will be significantly higher,” Riza stated.
The Lebanese healthcare system has been severely strained due to a succession of crises, Riza noted, emphasizing that the country lacks the necessary institutional capacity to cope with the Israeli military operations.
“Many of these airstrikes are occurring in densely populated areas, and the situation is further complicated by the issuance of displacement orders, which can be unpredictable and create a sense of uncertainty,” Riza explained.
This volatile environment has given rise to a climate of fear and panic among both local residents and displaced individuals, Riza warned, describing it as a perilous dynamic.

The recent escalation of Israeli strikes in Lebanon has brought back painful memories for many, particularly the horrors of the 1982 siege of Beirut, which left an indelible mark on the country’s history.
During Lebanon’s protracted civil war (1975-1990), Israel launched a military invasion in June 1982, led by then-Defence Minister Ariel Sharon, with the declared objective of dismantling the Palestine Liberation Organization, which had established a stronghold in Beirut and was conducting attacks on Israel from southern Lebanon.
The ensuing siege of West Beirut, which lasted from June to August, resulted in a dire humanitarian crisis, with residents facing severe shortages of food, water, electricity, and fuel.
The most vulnerable victims of this tragic sequence of events were Palestinians residing in the refugee camps of Sabra and Shatila, many of whom had already been displaced from their ancestral homes during the 1948 Nakba, the catastrophic mass displacement that accompanied the creation of Israel.
After surviving one calamity, they were confronted with another.
Between September 16 and 18, the right-wing Phalange militia, in collaboration with Israeli forces, perpetrated a heinous massacre, killing between 2,000 and 3,500 Lebanese and Palestinian civilians, the majority of whom were brutally stabbed to death.

Reports from Iranian media indicate that the city’s air defence systems have been put on high alert in the capital, Tehran, following a recent two-week truce between the US and Iran.

Medical coordinator assistant Safa Bleik, working with Doctors Without Borders (MSF) in Beirut, reported a surge of wounded individuals pouring into Rafik Hariri Hospital, Lebanon’s largest public medical facility. The influx of casualties, Bleik stated, has put immense strain on hospital staff, who are struggling to cope with the sheer volume of patients.

In an audio message shared by MSF on social media, Bleik described the chaotic scene unfolding in the emergency room, where medical teams are treating patients with severe shrapnel wounds and profuse bleeding. Many of the wounded, including children, are being rushed to the hospital, overwhelming the already crowded wards.

According to Al Jazeera correspondent Resul Serdar, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states are voicing apprehension over the ambiguous status of the Strait of Hormuz under the recently negotiated US-Iran ceasefire terms. Specifically, there is concern that Iran may impose tolls during the two-week period. The GCC has unequivocally expressed its opposition to any alteration in the strait’s current status, which is crucial for the uninterrupted flow of vital oil and gas supplies.

Israeli analyst Ori Goldberg has condemned the Israeli military’s aggressive actions in Lebanon as a spectacle designed to showcase Israel’s capabilities, yet ultimately revealing its desperation. According to Goldberg, the international community holds the key to halting the assault, as it is the only entity capable of safeguarding Lebanon’s long-abandoned sovereignty.

Goldberg, speaking to Al Jazeera, accused Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu of becoming a liability for Washington due to the US-Israeli conflict with Iran. As a result, Netanyahu is attempting to prove Israel’s dominance over the region by demonstrating control over Lebanon. Goldberg attributed Netanyahu’s current predicament to his miscalculation in relying on Trump, which ultimately backfired.

“Netanyahu bet everything on Trump, and he lost,” Goldberg stated. “He underestimated the ability to keep Trump in check, and now he’s left with Lebanon, a territory Israel has historically exploited for its own interests.” Goldberg emphasized that the international community’s response will determine whether it intervenes to protect Lebanon’s sovereignty.

In a recent statement to PBS’s White House correspondent Liz Landers, President Trump confirmed that Lebanon is not part of the two-week ceasefire agreement. According to Trump, the exclusion of Lebanon is largely due to the presence of Hezbollah, which he claimed would be addressed in the agreement. In response to inquiries about Israel’s military actions in Lebanon, Trump characterized the situation as a distinct, isolated incident.

In the heart of Beirut, a residential district was caught off guard by a sudden and unannounced onslaught. This densely populated area, comprising commercial buildings and apartment complexes, is home to a massive population of thousands. The surprise attack, devoid of any prior warning, has left residents reeling in shock.

Unlike previous Israeli strikes that targeted known Hezbollah strongholds, today’s assault focused on a region not typically associated with the group. The lack of warning and the element of surprise have had a profoundly devastating impact on the community. Hospitals in Beirut are now struggling to cope with a massive influx of injured individuals, with urgent calls for blood donations flooding social media platforms.

Eyewitnesses describe chaotic scenes as people with injuries desperately sought medical attention, while others abandoned their vehicles in the midst of traffic congestion. The air was filled with the sounds of panic and despair, as children cried and bystanders shouted in response to the unprecedented crisis unfolding before their eyes.

Lebanon’s Health Minister Rakan Nassereddine warns that the confirmed death count of 89 is likely to surge as rescue efforts are hindered by the sheer scale of destruction.
According to Nassereddine, the escalating crisis is compounded by the magnitude of Israel’s military assault, which has seen over 100 aerial strikes launched against civilian areas in Beirut, Dahiyeh, Bekaa, Mount Lebanon, and the southern region.
The minister further emphasized that hospitals, medical facilities, and emergency services have been directly targeted by the Israeli aggression, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.

Lebanon’s parliament speaker, Nabih Berri, has denounced the recent Israeli strikes as a grave war crime, coming as Beirut faces its most intense assault, mere hours after a fragile truce was brokered between the US and Iran.

Berri’s scathing criticism targets the Israeli military’s relentless bombardment of densely populated areas, including the southern suburbs of Beirut, vast swaths of the Bekaa Valley, Mount Lebanon, Sidon, and numerous villages in southern Lebanon. The devastating strikes have left hundreds of innocent civilians dead or injured in residential neighborhoods.

Berri’s statement serves as a stern rebuke to the international community, accusing Israel of flagrantly disregarding international norms and conventions. He urged Lebanon’s leaders to stand united in their support for the victims, as the country grapples with the brutal consequences of Israel’s “war of extermination” against Lebanon.