US-Israel Iran War Live Updates

A photo released by Israel’s Channel 12 has revealed a faint plume of smoke billowing from a Galilee settlement, a consequence of a rocket barrage launched from Lebanese territory.
According to reports, more than 30 projectiles were fired into the area within a short time frame.
This marked the second such attack in the Galilee region within the past hour.

In a televised address to the American public on Wednesday, President Trump issued a warning to Iran, stating that the country would be reduced to a state of utter devastation if it failed to agree to a peace deal that met Washington’s demands to end the ongoing conflict, now in its fifth week. This threat, which has been interpreted as a veiled promise of widespread destruction, would result in the obliteration of a nation’s infrastructure, leaving no modern structures standing, including hospitals, schools, universities, businesses, hotels, skyscrapers, or parks.

Such an action would likely be classified as a war crime under international law, given its potential to cause widespread harm to civilians. However, this type of threat is not a new phenomenon. The phrase ‘reduced to ancient ruins’ is often associated with Curtis LeMay, a US Air Force officer who oversaw the destruction of Japanese cities during World War II. In the early 1950s, US-led forces conducted a campaign of carpet bombing against North Korea, resulting in the destruction of nearly 95 percent of its power generation capacity and over 80 percent of its buildings.

LeMay later advocated for the US to employ similar tactics against Vietnam during the war in Southeast Asia. In 1972, US President Richard Nixon ordered the carpet bombing of North Vietnam, which was marketed to the American public as the ‘Christmas bombing’ campaign. Following the September 11 attacks, the US threatened to reduce Pakistan to ‘ancient ruins’ if it did not join the war against the Taliban, according to then-Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf.

The relentless Israeli ground invasion, which has been underway for several weeks, has led to a surge in air strikes across southern Lebanon, resulting in a mounting death toll. On Wednesday, the number of fatalities in Lebanon rose to 1,318, with 125 of those victims being children, while the number of wounded is nearing 4,000 after four weeks of conflict.
A tragic incident in the Nabatieh district on Wednesday saw an entire family of four perish in an air strike. The family, consisting of a man, his wife, and their two daughters, lost their lives in the devastating attack.
As the conflict intensifies, Hezbollah continues to assert its military presence, claiming operations against Israeli forces. The militant group asserts that it is targeting Israeli troops operating within Lebanon, with a focus on the town of Antara, where they have been launching rocket and drone attacks. Hezbollah also reports artillery and drone strikes, as well as barrages of rockets and drones fired into northern Israel, allegedly targeting Israeli troops, bases, and barracks along the border.

A rocket attack on the northern Israeli city of Kiryat Shmona has left two individuals, aged 85 and 34, with minor shrapnel injuries, according to footage and reports from Channel 12. A photograph circulating online shows the devastating impact of the blast, with a house in the area suffering significant damage, including blown-out walls.

In a recent development, Iraq’s Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) have confirmed that their Nineveh Operations Command was subjected to two separate strikes by US and Israeli forces within a 24-hour timeframe. According to the PMF, the most recent attack took place at 5:20am local time, equivalent to 2:20 GMT, on the current day. Fortunately, the group reports that neither of these incidents resulted in any casualties. It is worth noting that US forces have previously launched numerous attacks against the PMF during the conflict in Iran, a paramilitary organisation closely tied to Iraq’s military and boasting some brigades with ties to Iran.

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.