Pro-Iran militias threaten to join war with Israel as nations continue to trade fire – while Trump says he will make a decision on US action within two weeks: Live updates
Pro-Iran militias threaten to join war with Israel as nations continue to trade fire – while Trump says he will make a decision on US action within two weeks: Live updates
Iran-backed militias have threatened to join in the war with Israel if the Trump administration enters the Israel-Iran conflict.
Iraqi militia Kataib Hezbollah vowed to attack US military bases in the Middle East should the US launch a strike on Iran.
‘We reaffirm, with even greater clarity, that should the United States enter into this war, the deranged (US President Donald) Trump shall forfeit all the trillions he dreams of seizing from this region.
‘Operational plans have been established for that purpose,’ Abu Ali al-Askari, the security leader of Kataib Hezbollah, said in a statement today.
‘Undoubtedly, American bases throughout the region will become akin to duck-hunting grounds,’ the statement added.
Meanwhile, the leader of Hezbollah, a pro-Iran Lebanese militant group, said it would ‘act as we see fit’ in response to the ongoing war between its main backer Iran and Israel.
In a statement, Qassem said Hezbollah was ‘not neutral’ in the conflict between the two regional superpowers, saying that the group would ‘act as we see fit in the face of this brutal Israeli-American aggression’.
Donald Trump will decide in the next two weeks whether to launch a strike on Iran aimed at crippling its nuclear capabilities, the White House confirmed Thursday.
The announcement came as Israel and Iran exchanged missile fire and drone attacks for the seventh consecutive day.
Despite the ongoing violence, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the president remains hopeful for a diplomatic resolution in the region.
Trump convened his national security team in the White House Situation Room for the third time in as many days, as he considers whether to use 30,000-pound ‘bunker buster’ bombs on Iran’s mile-deep underground nuclear facilities.
Earlier Thursday, Israeli officials released images of a precision airstrike on a nuclear facility in Arak, claiming the site was designed to produce plutonium – one of the key materials used in nuclear weapons.
Overnight, Iran escalated its retaliation, launching a barrage of missiles that struck a hospital in the southern Israeli city of Beersheba, injuring at least 71 people.
In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that ‘no one is immune’ from potential Israeli action.
Live updates below
Breaking:Donald Trump will decide whether to strike Iran in next two weeks
By Katelyn Caralle, Senior U.S. Political Reporter
Donald Trump will make the final decision within the next two weeks on whether the U.S. will conduct a strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt shared a direct quote from the president during her briefing on Thursday:
Based on the fact that there’s a substantial chance of negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision whether or not to go within the next two weeks.
Leavitt said she was bringing that message to media due to speculation over Trump’s decision to get directly involved in the conflict between Israel and Iran.
👇 Don’t stop — the key part is below 👇
The president’s spokesperson repeatedly said that Trump believes there is still a chance for Iran to come back to the table for negotiations.
‘The president is always interested in a diplomatic solution,’ Leavitt said. ‘But he’s not afraid to use strength, as well.’
‘Trust in President Trump,’ she urged during the briefing.
Israel struck Iranian facilities and military leaders this month in attempts to prevent Tehran from gaining nuclear weapons capabilites. Since the strikes began on June 12, Trump has been weighing whether the U.S. will get involved and back Israel by also striking Iran.
sraeli president says ‘we know what to do’ if US does not intervene
Isaac Herzog says diplomacy ‘can always be part of the solution” to the crisis with Iran.
Asked what would happen if the US decides against joining the war, Herzog told Politico, ‘We know what to do. We’ve shown that we know what to do.’
05:54
UK and US agree Iran can never ‘acquire a nuclear weapon’
Britain’s Foreign Secretary David Lammy said Thursday after talks at the White House with Secretary of State Marco Rubio that there is still time to reach a diplomatic solution with Iran over its nuclear program, to avert a wider conflict.
Lammy met with Rubio and US special envoy Steve Witkoff in Washington one day before he was due in Geneva for talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi alongside his French, German and EU counterparts.
The meetings come as European countries call for de-escalation in the face of Israel’s bombing campaign against Iran’s nuclear program – and as US President Donald Trump weighs up whether or not to join the strikes against Tehran.
‘The situation in the Middle East remains perilous. We are determined that Iran must never have a nuclear weapon,’ Lammy said in a statement released by the UK embassy in Washington.
‘We discussed how Iran must make a deal to avoid a deepening conflict. A window now exists within the next two weeks to achieve a diplomatic solution,’ Lammy said.
‘Tomorrow, I will be heading to Geneva to meet with the Iranian foreign minister alongside my French, German and EU counterparts.
‘Now is the time to put a stop to the grave scenes in the Middle East and prevent a regional escalation that would benefit no one.’
05:23
Keir Starmer and Bahraini crown prince urge de-escalation
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has stressed the need to de-escalate the crisis in the Middle East during talks with Bahraini Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa in London.
‘The leaders called for de-escalation and both agreed on the need for enduring and closer relationships across the region to support stability,’
a spokesperson for Starmer’s office said.
04:41
Israel says Iran fired cluster bomb-bearing missile
Iran fired at least one missile at Israel that scattered small bombs with the aim of increasing civilian casualties, the Israeli military said on Thursday, the first reported use of cluster munitions in the seven-day-old war.
Israeli military officials provided no further details.
Israeli news reports quoted the Israeli military as saying the missile’s warhead split open at an altitude of about 4 miles (7 km) and released around 20 submunitions in a radius of around 5 miles (8 km) over central Israel.
One of the small munitions struck a home in the central Israeli town of Azor, causing some damage, Times of Israel military correspondent Emanuel Fabian reported. There were no reports of casualties from the bomb.
Cluster bombs are controversial because they indiscriminately scatter submunitions, some of which can fail to explode and kill or injure long after a conflict ends
04:38
Iran-backed Shiite militia in Iraq vows to attack US regional bases if Trump enters conflict
An Iran-backed powerful Shiite militia in Iraq vowed on Thursday to attack US military bases in the Middle East if the Trump administration enters the Israel-Iran conflict.
‘We reaffirm, with even greater clarity, that should the United States enter into this war, the deranged (US President Donald) Trump shall forfeit all the trillions he dreams of seizing from this region. Operational plans have been established for that purpose,’ Abu Ali al-Askari, the security leader of Kataib Hezbollah, said in a statement today.
‘Undoubtedly, American bases throughout the region will become akin to duck-hunting grounds,’ the statement added.
Al-Askari also threatened to shut down the Strait of Hormuz between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, as well as the narrow Bab-el-Mandeb waterway leading into the Red Sea from the south. He went on to say that ‘oil ports along the Red Sea will cease operation — not to mention the unforeseen surprises that may await its aircraft in the skies.’
04:33
Breaking:IDF issues evacuation warning to residents of Iranian village
The Israeli military has issued an evacuation warning to Iranians in the industrial area of Kolesh Taleshan village, located north west of Tehran.
Israel says the warning comes as it prepares to strike Iranian military infrastructure.
A social media post written in Persian language by the IDF read: Urgent warning to all people located in the red area of the map in Sefidrood Industrial Park within the village of Kalash Taleshan.’
‘The Israeli army, just as it has been attacking the Iranian regime’s military infrastructure throughout Iran in recent days, will soon be operating in this area.
‘Dear citizens, for your safety and health, we ask that you leave the designated area on the map as soon as possible. Your presence in this area puts your life at risk.’
04:23
Israeli army says intercepted drone launched from Iran
The IDF says the drone was intercepted in the Haifa area in northern Israel.
03:58
Operations at Australian Embassy in Tehran suspended
The Australian embassy in Tehran has been closed and officials are being directed to leave, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade says.
‘The security situation is unpredictable and could deteriorate further with little warning,’ the department said in a Smartraveller alert in the early hours of Friday morning.
‘Our ability to provide consular assistance in Iran is extremely limited.’
03:55
Explosion reported at Norwegian ambassador’s residence in Tel Aviv
The Norwegian Ambassador to Israel’s residence in Tel Aviv was hit with an explosion late on Thursday, Norwegian officials said.
The Norwegian foreign ministry said no staff in the embassy were injured during the incident.
In an X post, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said the explosion was caused by a grenade thrown into the embassy property.
Saar said he spoke with Norway’s Ambassador Per Egil Selvaag as he condemned the ‘dangerous crime.’
03:42
White House: Trump to get intelligence briefings on Friday, Saturday, Sunday
US President Donald Trump will be briefed by the National Security Council on developments between Israel and Iran, the White House says.
Earlier, we reported that Trump said he will decide on whether the US will get involved in the Israel-Iran conflict in the next two weeks.
03:40
Explosion at Norway’s ambassador residence in Tel Aviv, no injured, says foreign ministry
An explosion occurred at the residence of the Norwegian ambassador to Israel on Thursday evening in Tel Aviv, the Norwegian foreign ministry said.
‘We have been in contact with the embassy tonight. No staff with the embassy was injured during the incident,’ the foreign ministry said in an emailed statement.
It did not say what caused the explosion.
In a post on X, Israel’s foreign minister, Gideon Saar, said he spoke a short time ago with ambassador Per Egil Selvaag.
Saar said a grenade had been thrown in Selvaag’s yard, a ‘dangerous crime’ that he condemned.
Norwegian newspaper VG reported that the Norwegian embassy in Tel Aviv was closed on Monday due to the security situation.
03:28
Hospital casualties confirmed
Israeli authorities have confirmed that at least 240 people were wounded during the attacks near Tel Aviv and on Soroka Medical Centre in southern Israel.
The victims included 80 patients and medical workers from the hospital, most of whom received minor injuries.
The majority of the 700 patients being treated at the site had been evacuated prior to the missile strike, Associated Press reported.
03:25
Breaking:Iran issues evacuation warning to Israel’s Channel 14 news offices, state-run media says
Iran plans to attack the offices of Israel’s Channel 14 news station, which it accuses of being Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ‘propaganda channel’ Iran’s state-run Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) said today.
IRIB said Iran will target the television offices in the coming days, urging all workers to evacuate them.
It comes after on Monday an Israeli strike hit the Iranian IRIB and interrupted a live broadcast with an explosion.
03:25
White House remaining ‘in contact’ with Iran as Trump expresses hope of finding a deal
Trump insiders say US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff is still ‘in contact’ with Iranian representatives as the White House retains hopes of reaching a peace deal.
Witkoff, who on Thursday held meetings with the UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, has reportedly been back channeling talks with Iran since Israel ignited the conflict seven days ago.
On Thursday, Al Jazeera’s Washington DC reporter Kimberly Halkett said Witkoff ‘is continuing to stay in contact’ with Tehran.
Ahead of a scheduled meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on Friday, Halkett reported that the ‘message will be conveyed… that the United States is looking for a path for a diplomatic resolution.’
This follows White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt saying Thursday that Trump would decide whether to join strikes on Iran within two weeks, because there is ‘a substantial chance of negotiations’ with Tehran.
03:11
Top US diplomat warns Hezbollah to remain out of attacks on Israel
The US Special Envoy to Syria and Ambassador to Turkey, Tom Barrack, warned that Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah would be making a ‘very, very bad decision’ if it wades into the conflict with Israel.
Barrack made the remarks Thursday afternoon on a visit to Beirut to meet top Lebanese officials, including parliament speaker Nabih Berri, an ally of Hezbollah.
‘I can say on behalf of President Trump… that would be a very, very, very bad decision,’ he said of Hezbollah joining the war.
Barrack spoke after Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem broke his silence earlier in the day, vowing to ‘act as we see fit.’
‘Tyrannical America and criminal Israel will not be able to subjugate the Iranian people and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps,’ Qassem said.
Hezbollah has not made any moves to join the conflict, but Qassem said the Iranian proxy group was ‘not neutral.’
03:02
Tehran under attack
Social media footage appears to show the Iranian capital of Tehran coming under attack from Israeli strikes this evening.
02:58
Second day of Iran’s ‘worst ever’ internet shutdown
Digital rights campaigners have described the ongoing internet shutdown in Iran as the worst ever in the country’s history of internet control, the BBC reports.
It has now been over 24 hours since the government imposed a nationwide shutdown cutting the vast majority of the country’s 91m people off from the outside world.
‘This is the worst internet shutdown in the country’s history,’ said Amir Rashidi, from Miaan Group, an advocacy organisation for Iranian human rights.
‘It’s worse than in November 2019. Back then, inbound internet traffic to Iran was not completely blocked. But since last night, even inbound traffic has been cut off,’ he says in a post on social media.
A total shutdown means that no websites or services can be accessed at all. Even people with VPNs on their phones – most of which are banned already in Iran – cannot get online.
02:54
Keir Starmer hosts Crown Prince of Bahrain
Keir Starmer is currently hosting the Crown Prince of Bahrain, Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, at 10 Downing Street.
During the Downing Street photo op, the UK prime minister said the pair will discuss ‘the developing conflict in the Middle East’.
02:50
Former US Army commander questions Trump’s ‘objective’ in Iran
Ben Hodges, the former Commander of the US Army in Europe, said he is concerned the US is set to get lost in another endless foreign war in Iran if it doesn’t have a ‘clearly defined objective.’
‘The biggest risk is if the president fails to clearly identify the strategic outcome that we want to accomplish,’ he told Reuters.
Hodges said the Trump administration should learn from past foreign policy fiascos to avoid repeating history.
‘I mean – the United States has not done this – we didn’t do it in Iraq, we didn’t do it in Afghanistan, we still have not clearly identified the strategic outcome for Ukraine,’ he said.
‘And if you don’t have a clearly defined objective, it’s very difficult to have good policy. So, dropping a bunker buster on this Fordow mountain, that’s a policy decision, that’s not a strategy. And so, the President has to explain, he has to know in his own mind, what’s gonna happen after this? What is the outcome, strategically?
‘And I don’t think he can answer that yet, and frankly he’s not surrounded by a team that’s capable of really thinking in that sort of strategic way.’
‘Honestly, I think the President was sincere when he said – I’ll know about a second before I decide, what I’m gonna do.’
02:44
Body of Ukrainian mother recovered from a building struck by an Iranian missile, Israeli officials said
The city of Bat Yam, close to Tel Aviv, announced an hour ago that ‘in the past few minutes, a body was found at the site of the missile impact’, identifying the victim as 31-year-old Maria Peshkarova, 31, also known as Marina.
Peshkarova had travelled to Israel in December 2022 on a medical visa to seek life-saving treatment for her daughter Anastasia, 8, who was killed along with her grandmother in the destroyed apartment bloc in Bat Yam, according to the mayor’s office.
Peshkarova’s husband is fighting in Ukraine’s war against Russia, according to the Israeli news website Ynet.
Israeli authorities had previously released the names of eight people killed in the strike and had stated that one person was missing. Peshkarova’s confirmed death takes the total deathtoll in Israel to 25 since the war with Iran started on Friday, according to authorities.
Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced Sunday that five of its nationals were killed in the Iranian strike on Bat Yam near Tel Aviv, including three minors.
Ukraine on Tuesday urged its citizens to leave Israel and Iran as soon as possible amid the spiralling conflict between the two countries.
02:33
MAGA civil war over bombing Iran escalates as Ted Cruz clashes with Tucker Carlson
The possibility of bombing Iran has fractured Donald Trump’s MAGA base in recent days, and two of its most prominent figures are trading barbs.
Ted Cruz clashed with former Fox News anchor Tucker Carlson in an interview on Wednesday night, in which the Texas Senator appeared to admit the US is already engaged with Iranian targets.
Cruz said ‘we’ are striking Iran, which Carlson leapt on as he interjected: ‘You’re breaking news here.’
‘The U.S. government last night denied… on behalf of Trump, that we’re acting on Israel’s behalf in any offensive capacity,’ Carlson said.
Cruz responded: ‘Israel is leading them, but we’re supporting them… No, we’re not bombing them. Israel is bombing them.’
Cruz is among the most vocal supporters of Israel in Congress, while Carlson has emerged as one of the principal conservative voices arguing against taking any direct action in Iran.
Their feud escalated on Thursday as Cruz dug up a 2012 article from The Atlantic with the headline: ‘Tucker Carlson: “Iran Deserves to Be Annihilated,”‘ and captioned the post, ‘Wonder what changed?’
The Atlantic article, written by Editor in Chief Jeffrey Goldberg, used a quote from Carlson that stated, ‘I do think, I’m sure I’m the lone voice in saying this, that Iran deserves to be annihilated. I think they’re lunatics. I think they’re evil.’
02:12
22,000 seeking evacuation flights from Israel, says tourism ministry
Amid the conflict, 22,000 tourists are seeking evacuation flights from Israel, according to the country’s tourism ministry.
The ministry’s director-general, Danny Shachar, said the Israeli government was working to co-ordinate flights as part of its ‘safe return’ programme, originally intended for Israelis returning to the country from elsewhere.
The UK Government has not said how many British nationals are in Israel, but has urged those in the country to register their presence with the embassy.
Although the Foreign Office advises against all travel to Israel and has evacuated the family members of embassy staff, it has not advised Britons to leave the country.
02:09
Czech foreign ministry in Tehran closing
The Czech foreign ministry said on Thursday it was temporarily closing its embassy in Tehran for security reasons due to the ongoing conflict in Iran.
02:08
CIA Director warns Iran is very close to possessing nuclear weapons, insiders say
CIA Director John Ratcliffe told the White House in closed-door meetings that Iran is very close to possessing nuclear weapons, a senior Trump administration official told NBC News.
The assessment of Iran’s nuclear capabilities contrasts the US intelligence community’s analysis, which has reportedly remained unchanged since DNI Chief Tulsi Gabbard testified in March that Iran was not building a nuclear weapon.
Gabbard said in testimony to Congress two months ago that Iran had built up a large supply of enriched uranium, but it was not close to starting to develop it into a weapon.
At a press briefing on Thursday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Iran has ‘all it needs to achieve a nuclear weapon.’
‘It would take a couple of weeks to complete the production of that weapon, which would, of course, pose an existential threat not just to Israel but to the United States, and the entire world,’ Leavitt said.
02:06
Breaking:Hezbollah chief says group stands with Iran
Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem (pictured) said on Thursday that the militant group would ‘act as we see fit’ in response to the ongoing war between its main backer Iran and Israel.
In a statement, Qassem said Hezbollah was ‘not neutral’ in the conflict between the two regional superpowers, saying that the group would ‘act as we see fit in the face of this brutal Israeli-American aggression’.
This comes after the US special envoy for Syria warned Hezbollah against getting involved in the war.
01:57
IDF: Israel has intercepted 95% of UAVs
The IDF claims to have intercepted 95% of Iranian drones launched towards Israeli territory.
A statement on its Telegram channel reads: ‘The Israeli Air Force and the Israeli Navy have so far intercepted hundreds of UAVs launched toward Israeli territory.
‘To date, over 95% of threats that posed a danger and approached Israeli airspace were successfully intercepted.’
01:54
Pictured: Israeli soldier plays beach volley
An Israeli soldier was pictured taking a break from his duties to play volleyball on a beach in Tel Aviv at sunset this evening
01:44
Trump’s two-week deadline could be a ploy, says analyst
Trump may still carry out strikes on Iran within the two-week deadline that his spokesperson just announced, according to Al Jazeera’s senior analyst Marwan Bishara.
‘He could actually use that as a pretext in order to camouflage whatever his intentions are and attack tomorrow,’ Bishara said.
Trump had renewed commitment to diplomacy with Iran hours before the Israeli strikes began last week.
Bishara said the US president could also be pausing his decision to allow talks between Iranian and European officials tomorrow and see where they may lead.
‘If one has to over-interpret, I would say the following: He’s giving the Europeans some time so that everyone could save face,’ he said.
