US-Israel Iran War Live Updates

Reports from Beirut indicate that Israeli forces have launched a massive air campaign targeting nine distinct areas within the city, according to an eyewitness account from an Al Jazeera Arabic correspondent stationed in the Lebanese capital.

Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) leader Jan Egeland is witnessing firsthand the devastating aftermath of Israel’s escalated airstrikes on Beirut and other Lebanese cities, describing the scenes as “heart-wrenching” and “extremely dire”. In a recent post on X, Egeland urged Israel and Hezbollah to put an end to their attacks, with Israel also withdrawing from the occupied Lebanese villages and territory.

In a swift response to escalating tensions, Saudi Arabia’s Defence Ministry confirmed that its military had successfully intercepted nine drones in a short span of time. This development comes as several Gulf states, including Bahrain, the UAE, and Kuwait, have recently been targeted by missile and drone attacks. The incidents occurred just hours after Iran and the US announced a two-week ceasefire.

A sudden and massive Israeli military operation has unleashed a barrage of dozens of air strikes across Lebanon, marking one of the most extensive and devastating assaults in the region’s tumultuous history.
Residential areas, mosques, vehicles, and cemeteries have been hit in various parts of the country, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.
As search and rescue efforts continue, Lebanese authorities estimate that hundreds of people have been injured or killed, with the death toll still uncertain.
The upscale Corniche al-Mazraa neighbourhood in central Beirut was particularly hard hit, with one building reduced to rubble. The southern suburbs of the capital also bore the brunt of the attacks, with multiple strikes reported in the coastal cities of Tyre and Sidon.
Israel’s aerial assault has intensified in south and east Lebanon, with reports of multiple fatalities emerging from the region.
Although an official death toll has yet to be confirmed, Lebanese media outlets have reported widespread casualties across the country.
Some of the reported attacks include:

In a statement to the Pentagon press corps, General Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, emphasized that US troops remain poised to resume combat operations should a peace agreement with Iran fail to materialize. The Trump administration’s push to portray the conflict as a decisive victory against Iran underscores the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the situation.

General Caine expressed cautious optimism, stating, “We are hopeful that Iran will opt for a lasting peace.” However, he made it clear that a ceasefire would merely be a temporary pause, and that the joint force remains prepared to swiftly resume combat operations, should the need arise.

Iran has pledged to exact retribution against Israel following the country’s alleged breach of a ceasefire agreement in Lebanon, according to a high-ranking Iranian official speaking to Al Jazeera.
The official emphasized that Israel’s history of reneging on commitments would only be checked by force, implying that military action is a likely response to the perceived transgression.
Meanwhile, a military source cited by Iran’s Fars news agency suggests that the country is mobilizing a response to Israel’s ceasefire infringement, underscoring the gravity of the situation.

According to a statement disseminated by Iran’s Tasnim news agency, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has confirmed that it successfully intercepted and neutralized a Hermes 900 drone over Lar, a key city situated in the southwestern Fars province.
The IRGC emphasized that any appearance of US or Israeli military aircraft within Iranian airspace, regardless of whether they are actively engaging in combat operations, would be viewed as a breach of the ceasefire agreement.
In response, the IRGC vowed to take swift and decisive action.

Elias Challala, president of the Beirut Doctors Syndicate, has issued an urgent call to action, requesting that every medical specialist in the region report to hospitals to offer their expertise in response to the overwhelming influx of casualties resulting from the Israeli air strikes, as per a statement released by Lebanon’s National News Agency.

According to Abas Aslani, a senior research fellow at the Center for Middle East Strategic Studies, Iran’s insistence on a ceasefire across all fronts, including Lebanon, is a key demand in the ongoing negotiations. Aslani points out to Al Jazeera that Lebanon is hesitant to revert to the pre-conflict situation, citing Israel’s repeated breaches of a 2024 ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah, which has resulted in near-daily attacks on the country. Hezbollah’s primary objective, Aslani notes, is to prevent the re-establishment of a previous status quo, ensuring that hostilities eventually cease. This development may also jeopardize the US-Iran talks, potentially prompting Iran to suspend its participation in the upcoming diplomatic discussions.

Spain’s Foreign Minister, Jose Manuel Albares, has urged Israel to immediately cease its indiscriminate bombing campaign in Lebanon, as he expressed his country’s concern over the escalating conflict to Al Jazeera. Albares emphasized the need for de-escalation, diplomatic efforts, and renewed negotiations to bring an end to the war. He also stressed that Lebanon must be included in any peace process and that agreements should be reached to prevent further attacks by Iran and its affiliated groups on regional countries. Furthermore, Albares called for an end to attacks on UNIFIL, the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, which was established by the Security Council in March 1978 to verify Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon, restore international peace and security, and assist the Lebanese Government in reasserting its authority in the area.