Dozens have been killed and hundreds injured in Israeli strikes on Lebanon on Wednesday, according to the country’s health ministry.
The Israeli military told The Independent that it had completed the “largest strike” on the country since the start of the conflict.
Israel had said it welcomed a ceasefire between Iran and the US but said the agreement "does not include Lebanon". It launched strikes on Beirut and Tyre on Wednesday and claimed to be targeting Hezbollah fighters.
Hezbollah said it had paused fighting in light of the ceasefire and urged Israel to do the same.
Meanwhile, US defence secretary Pete Hegseth said that the American military will be “hanging around” in Iran as he declared the US had won a “decisive military victory”.
Trump announced the agreement on Tuesday, hours after he threatened to wipe Iranian civilisation off the map. The two-week ceasefire will lead to Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
Both sides have framed the ceasefire as a win, with the announcement bringing oil prices below $100 for the first time in days.
Hailing the action as a “big day for world peace”, Trump said the move would usher in a new “golden age” for the Middle East.
Read MoreOil prices plummet and Asian stocks surge after Trump suspends attacks on Iran
Trump just TACO’d away American credibility as he backs down on Iran threats
What to know about Iran’s plans to impose fees on ships passing through Strait of Hormuz
Key Points
- Trump says US won 'total and complete victory' after Iran ceasefire deal
- Iran claims victory against 'criminal America'
- Israel accepts ceasefire but says it 'does not include Lebanon'
- Oil slides below $100 after Trump announces ceasefire
- Trump says ceasefire could bring 'Golden Age of the Middle East'
- Trump believes China convinced Iran to negotiate
- Iran warns their 'hand is on the trigger' ready to respond to attacks
In pictures: Israeli attacks on Lebanon escalate amid US-Iran ceasefire
14:42 , Maira Butt ‘Pete is not speaking truth to the president’: Experts sound alarm over Hegseth’s war messaging to Trump
14:25 , Maira ButtExperts have sounded the alarm over Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s starry-eyed messaging to President Donald Trump about the war against Iran.
The U.S. and Israel began launching strikes against Iran more than five weeks ago. U.S. Central Command has said its forces struck more than 13,000 Iranian targets so far, and Trump has been intensifying his threats against the country, warning that “a whole civilization will die tonight.”
There are concerns inside the Trump administration that Hegseth is being unrealistic about the true state of the war, and he could be misleading the president because of his faulty assessment, The Washington Post reported Tuesday.
Rachel Dobkin reports:
Experts sound alarm over Pete Hegseth’s messaging on Iran war to Trump
Renowned British-Palestinian surgeon describes 'absolute massacre' in Lebanon
14:12 , Bel TrewDr Ghassan Abu Sittah, a renowned British-Palestinian surgeon who has treated the wounded in Gaza and Lebanon, called Israel’s unprecedented bombardment an “absolute massacre”.
“It’s an absolute massacre, an absolute massacre and it happened almost simultaneously,” he told The Independent from a hospital in Lebanese capital.
“Emergency departments have been flooded across the whole of Beirut. We had the first wave and now we’re getting the second wave of people being dug out of the rubble. It’s horrendous. A lot of people brought in dead, a lot of children with severe injuries. ”
The Lebanese health ministry said there were “dozens dead and hundreds injured” but expected that estimate to rise as people were still being dug out of the rubble.
Hundreds killed or injured in Israeli strikes on Lebanon
13:49 , Maira ButtHundreds of people have been killed or injured in Israeli strikes on Lebanon according to the country’s health minister.
The news follows comments by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who said that a US-Iran ceasefire did not apply to Israel’s operations in Lebanon, which it says are to defeat Hezbollah.
Humanitarian groups and politicians including French president Emmanuel Macron have warned that the situation in Lebanon is “critical” and have urged for it to be included within a ceasefire agreement.
Hezbollah said it had paused fighting and urged Israel to follow.
Watch: Hegseth tells US troops in Iran to stay ‘vigilant’ and ‘ready’
13:39 , Maira Butt80 per cent of Iran's air defence systems destroyed
13:26 , Maira ButtGeneral Dan Caine has claimed that 80 per cent of Iran’s air defence systems have been destroyed in a press conference this afternoon.
He said that 90 per cent of Iran’s weapons factories and more than 90 per cent of Iran’s conventional navy fleet had been destroyed.
Caine said it would take “years” for Iran to rebuild any major surface combatants.
US defence secretary claims victory won under 'divine providence'
13:23 , Maira ButtPete Hegseth thanked God in a speech declaring a “decisive” victory following a ceasefire between Iran and the US.
He said that the US had been guided under “divine providence” as he added: “God is good.”
Hegseth claims new supreme leader 'wounded and disfigured'
13:17 , Maira ButtPete Hegseth has once again alleged that Iran’s new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei is “wounded and disfigured”. It seems to support reports from The Times earlier this week that the leader is unconscious and unable to govern Iran.
America’s defence secretary further declared: “We now have a chance at real peace”.
Iran 'begged' for ceasefire as country's missile program left 'functionally destroyed', says Hegseth
13:11 , Maira ButtThe US had a “decisive military victory” in Operation Epic Fury, Pete Hegseth has said as he claimed that Iran “begged for this ceasefire”.
He added that Iran’s missile program is “functionally destroyed” adding that the country’s factories have been “razed to the ground”.
Hegseth said President Donald Trump had chosen to show “mercy” to Iran.
US secretary of war Pete Hegseth to deliver press conference
13:03 , Maira ButtPete Hegseth, America’s defence secretary and chairman of the joint chiefs of staff general Dan Caine are due to give a press conference shortly.
Yesterday’s event was cancelled. It will mark his first statements since a US-Iran ceasefire was agreed on Tuesday.
We will bring you the latest comments as they come in. Watch the live stream here.
Shipping unlikely to resume quickly despite ceasefire, analyst says
13:00 , Bryony GoochStuti Mishra reports:
Shipowners are unlikely to return to the Gulf immediately despite the ceasefire, as risks remain elevated, an analyst said.
“The situation remains highly volatile, and despite the ceasefire, shipowners are unlikely to rush back into the Gulf to load fossil fuels,” Isaac Levi, senior analyst at the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) told The Independent.
Israeli military launches largest strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon
12:50 , Bryony GoochThe Israeli military said on Wednesday it had carried out the largest strikes against Lebanon's Hezbollah since this war began, striking the militant group's infrastructure within the heart of civilian areas across the country.
India 'hopes Iran ceasefire will encourage peace efforts in Ukraine'
12:46 , Bryony GoochAn Indian government spokesperson has welcomed the US-Iran ceasefire, saying New Delhi "continuously advocated" for an end to the conflict.
India has, alongside the rest of South Asia, seen price rises and fuel shortages since the war began. The statement noted that the war had "already caused immense suffering to people and disrupted global energy supply and trade networks".
"India has always been in favour of peace," spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said. "We welcome all steps that lead to peace and stability."We hope that this development in West Asia will also encourage peace efforts in Ukraine."
White House says any in-person Iran-related talks not final until announced by Trump or White House
12:42 , Bryony GoochThere are discussions about in-person talks, but nothing is final until U.S. President Donald Trump or the White House make an announcement, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said on Wednesday after Washington and Tehran agreed to a two-week ceasefire.
It follows reports that ceasefire talks will be held in Islamabad on Friday.
All we know about Iran’s 10 point peace plan after agreeing two week ceasefire with US
12:40 , Maira ButtIran and the United States agreed on an eleventh-hour ceasefire proposal overnight, announcing a deal less than two hours before president Donald Trump’s deadline for Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face catastrophe.
Trump said late on Tuesday that he had accepted a two week ceasefire, paving the way for negotiators to work out the final details of a more enduring peace.
The abrupt turnaround came only hours after the president threatened that “a whole civilisation will die tonight, never to be brought back again” unless Iran met his deadline to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
James C Reynolds reports:
All we know about Iran’s 10 point peace plan after agreeing ceasefire with US
Breaking: Trump threatens tariffs for countries who supply Iran with weapons
12:38 , Bryony GoochFollowing his statement about working closely with Iran towards a ceasefire, US president Donald Trump has threatened tariffs for any country supplying Tehran with weapons.
He said on Truth Social: “A Country supplying Military Weapons to Iran will be immediately tariffed, on any and all goods sold to the United States of America, 50%, effective immediately. There will be no exclusions or exemptions! President DJT”
Breaking: Trump claims Iran is undergoing 'a very productive Regime Change'
12:30 , Bryony GoochUS president Donald Trump has said he believes that Iran is undergoing a ‘very productive Regime Change’ as the United States homes to work closely with Tehran.
In a post on Truth Social, he said: “The United States will work closely with Iran, which we have determined has gone through what will be a very productive Regime Change!
“There will be no enrichment of Uranium, and the United States will, working with Iran, dig up and remove all of the deeply buried (B-2 Bombers) Nuclear ‘Dust.’ It is now, and has been, under very exacting Satellite Surveillance (Space Force!). Nothing has been touched from the date of attack.
“We are, and will be, talking Tariff and Sanctions relief with Iran. Many of the 15 points have already been been agreed to. Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DONALD J. TRUMP”
Trump is 'impatient' about progress to end Iran war says JD Vance
12:26 , Bryony GoochUS president Donald Trump is "impatient" about making progress toward ending the Iran war and has instructed his negotiating team to engage the Iranians in good faith, vice president JD Vance said on Wednesday.
Speaking at an event in Budapest during his trip to Hungary, Vance said a deal was possible if Iran negotiated sincerely, but cautioned that while some parts of the Iranian system were approaching the talks constructively, others were "lying" about the ceasefire. He described the situation as a "fragile truce".
"The President of the United States has told me - and he's told the entire negotiating team, secretary of state, the special envoy Steve Witkoff - he said go and work in good faith to come to an agreement," he said.
"He's impatient. He's impatient to make progress," Vance added. "He has told us to negotiate in good faith, and I think if they negotiate in good faith, we will be able to find a deal. But that's a big if, and ultimately, it's up to the Iranians how they negotiate. I hope they make the right decision."
The United States and Iran have agreed to a two-week ceasefire brokered by Pakistan, potentially halting a six-week-old war that has killed thousands, spread across the Middle East and caused unprecedented disruption to the world's energy supplies.
EU not commenting on Hormuz security yet, says spokesperson
12:25 , Maira ButtThe EU Commission has declined to comment on possible future steps to secure traffic in the Strait of Hormuz as a US-Iran ceasefire remains fresh.
“We have the news of the ceasefire. We're welcoming it. As the High Representative (Kaja Kallas) has said, we have a window in terms of mediation that needs to stay open and then we take it from there,” EU spokesperson Anouar El Anouni said during a daily press briefing on Wednesday.
He emphasised that the Strait of Hormuz was a global “public good”.
Iran's IRGC say they targeted oil facilities including in Saudi Yanbu in overnight attacks
12:17 , Bryony GoochIran's Revolutionary Guards said on Wednesday that they attacked overnight energy complexes and oil transfer lines linked to the US and Israel, including oil facilities in Saudi Arabia's port city Yanbu, state media reported.
Iran warns their 'hand is on the trigger' ready to respond to attacks
12:05 , Maira ButtIran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps have warned they remain prepared to respond to attacks as a two-week ceasefire takes hold after six weeks of fighting.
The group said their “hand is on the trigger” to respond with more force, according to the Tasnim news agency.
Lebanon's Hezbollah calls for restraint as it halts attacks on Israel
11:49 , Maira ButtLebanon’s Hezbollah has halted attacks on northern Israel and Israeli troops on Wednesday as part of an ongoing US-Iran ceasefire.
But a lawmaker from the group said that Israel must also adhere to the agreement or it would collapse.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the ceasefire did not apply to Israel’s attacks on Lebanon, despite comments made by Pakistan’s prime minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Hezbollah stopped attacking Israeli targets early on Wednesday, three Lebanese sources close to the group told Reuters.
Analysis: Trump just TACO’d away American credibility as he backs down on Iran threats
11:30 , Maira ButtDonald Trump has spent his career railing against elite presidents who did not have the courage to act the way he claims he does.
But judging by Trump’s announcement today that he would extend the deadline for his strikes within Iran by two weeks, one has to wonder what the president’s words mean anymore. He makes big threats, but quickly becomes the boy who cries wolf and doesn’t follow through. While nobody wanted to see him end a “civilization,” his latest retreat is just more evidence that his big threats mean little and will now carry political consequences.
Trump’s decision to back out – commonly referred to as “TACO” or “Trump Always Chickens Out” – this time demonstrates a measure of strategic weakness that far outmeasures any previous humiliation that Trump used to criticize from past presidents.
And it means that no world leader ever needs to take Trump’s threats seriously.
Eric Garcia reports:
Trump just TACO’d away American credibility as he backs down on Iran threats
Trump claims a ‘Golden Age of the Middle East’ is on the way after Iran ceasefire: ‘Big money will be made’
11:10 , Maira ButtA jubilant President Donald Trump has promised a new “Golden Age of the Middle East” after a last-minute ceasefire agreement was forged with Iran to postpone the latest wave of devastating airstrikes he had threatened.
The president had given the regime in Tehran a Tuesday evening deadline to come to terms, after which he warned he would unleash “hell” by eradicating the country’s power plants and bridges, a prospect that has now been suspended for at least two weeks, providing oil is allowed to resume passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
“A big day for World Peace! Iran wants it to happen, they’ve had enough! Likewise, so has everyone else!,” Trump wrote on Truth Social in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
James C Reynolds reports:
Trump claims a ‘Golden Age of the Middle East’ is on the way after Iran ceasefire
EU welcomes ceasefire agreement and urges efforts towards lasting agreement
10:50 , Maira ButtEuropean Union leaders have welcomed a two-week ceasefire agreed between Iran and the United States and have urged for a more lasting deal to be reached.
“I welcome the two-week ceasefire the US and Iran agreed last night. It brings much needed de-escalation”, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said on X on Wednesday.
Kaja Kallas, the EU’s top diplomat, said that the cessation in hostilities was necessary as a “step back from the brink after weeks of escalation”.
“It creates a much-needed chance to tone down threats, stop missiles, restart shipping, and create space for diplomacy towards a lasting agreement,” she said.
European Council president Antonio Costa urged “all parties to uphold its terms in order to achieve sustainable peace in the region”.
Iran's president Masoud Pezeshkian pays tribute to slain Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as he reacts to ceasefire
10:34 , Maira ButtPresident Masoud Pezeshkian has reacted to a US-Iran ceasefire after 39 days of conflict.
He paid tribute to slain supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as he vowed Iran would commit to diplomatic means to determine its future.
In his first statement since the ceasefire announcement, Pezeshkian said: “The ceasefire, with the acceptance of the general principles desired by Iran, was the fruit of the blood of our great martyred leader [Ayatollah Ali] Khamenei and the achievement of the presence of all the people on the scene.
“From today onward, we will also remain together. Whether in the field of diplomacy, whether in the field of defense, whether on the street scene, and whether in the arena of service provision.”
Ayatollah Khamenei was killed in a strike on his compound on 28 February in a US-Israeli attack.
Pope Leo reacts to ceasefire after criticising Trump threats
10:24 , Maira ButtReaction to the US-Iran ceasefire is still coming in. Earlier, we saw reaction from the European Union, the UK, Germany and nations involved in the conflict: the US, Iran and Israel.
Pope Leo welcomed the announcement with “great satisfaction” after he hit out at President Donald Trump’s threats to eradicate Iranian civilisation as “unacceptable”.
Poland’s defence minister has also added his thoughts, saying: “It's good that it happened; it's always a positive sign ... let's hope for a continuation of this process, leading to a permanent ceasefire,” Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz told reporters on Wednesday.
Israel stops strikes on Iran after ceasefire after completing final wave
10:10 , Maira ButtThe Israeli military has confirmed that it has ceased attacks on Iran after a Pakistan-brokered ceasefire came into effect.
“In accordance with directives from the political echelon, the IDF has ceased fire in the campaign against Iran and is at high alert for defence, ready to respond to any violation,” it said in a statement.
Several explosions were heard on Iran’s Sirri Island on Wednesday morning but the source of the explosions is unknown.
Iran's new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei 'unconscious and receiving treatment', according to diplomatic memo
10:05 , Maira ButtMojtaba Khamenei, Iran’s new supreme leader, is reportedly incapacitated and receiving medical treatment according to a US and Israeli intelligence assessment mentioned in a diplomatic memo and seen by The Times.
It revealed the location of the second-eldest son of the slain Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, which is said to be in Qom, a city considered sacred and situated 87 miles south of Tehran.
He has not been seen in public since his appointment.
Israeli military issues evacuation warning for seven neighbourhoods in Lebanon
09:50 , Maira ButtThe Israeli military has issued an evacuation warning for seven neighbourhoods in Beirut’s southern suburbs ahead of a possible attack, according to Reuters.
Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed that attacks would continue in a mission he says is to defeat Hezbollah.
Israel continues striking Iran despite ceasefire agreement
09:37 , Maira ButtExplosions have been heard at an oil refinery in Iran, hours after a two-week ceasefire was agreed between the US and Tehran, according to local Iranian media.
A security official told the Times of Israel that the Israeli Air Force continues to carry out strikes in Iran on Wednesday.
Tehran is reported to have fired several salvos of ballistic missiles towards Israel since the agreement was expected to take effect.
Iran and Oman to charge for Strait of Hormuz passage
09:21 , Maira ButtIran and Oman will charge a fee to allow ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route through which one fifth of the world’s oil and gas passes.
The waterway was effectively closed after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps laid claim to the region and threatened to set fire to transiting vessels.
A regional official told the Associated Press on Wednesday that Iran would use the money for reconstruction but it is not immediately clear what Oman would be using the money for.
No tolls had been paid previously.
Trump and Netanyahu spoke about Iran ceasefire overnight, says Wall Street Journal
09:06 , Maira ButtPresident Donald Trump and Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed the US-Iran ceasefire overnight, a person familiar with the matter told the Wall Street Journal.
Netanyahu welcomed the decision to halt hostilities but said that Israel would continue to attack Lebanon.
Israeli strikes hit Tyre in Lebanon after Israel issues evacuation orders
08:49 , Maira ButtAn Israeli strike has struck the Abbasiyeh neighbourhood of Tyre, Lebanon’s fifth largest city, after the Israeli military issued evacuation orders on Wednesday.
Residents of the city were ordered to evacuate immediately and move north of the Zahrani river after Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the US-Iran ceasefire announced earlier would not apply to Israeli action in Lebanon.
Over 1,500 people have been killed since the onset of Israel’s military action.
France's Macron calls for Lebanon to be included in ceasefire
08:24 , Maira ButtPresident Emmanuel Macron called for Lebanon to be included in a US-Iran ceasefire on Wednesday.
At the start of his meeting on defence with advisers and members of his cabinet, he said that the situation in Lebanon remained critical and called for the country to be included in the deal.
Pakistan’s prime minister Shehbaz Sharif had said that the ceasefire included Israeli attacks on Lebanon but Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israeli strikes on the country would continue.
Israeli opposition leader hits out at Netanyahu's 'political disaster' after ceasefire agreement
07:37 , Maira ButtIsrael’s opposition leader Yair Lapid has appeared to brand a US-Iran ceasefire the biggest “political disaster” in all of the country’s history.
The centrist leader criticised Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and said it would take “years to repair the political and strategic damage that Netanyahu wrought due to arrogance, negligence and a lack of strategic planning.”
“There has never been such a political disaster in all of our history,” Lapid wrote in a post on X on Wednesday.
“Israel wasn't even at the table when decisions were made concerning the core of our national security.
“The military carried out everything that was asked of it, the public demonstrated amazing resilience, but Netanyahu failed politically, failed strategically, and didn't meet a single one of the goals that he himself set.”
Smoke rises from a building in Iraq after airstrikes
07:35 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar Breaking: UK prime minister Starmer to hold talks with Gulf partners on reopening Strait of Hormuz as he welcomes ceasefire
07:19 , Maira ButtPrime minister Keir Starmer will travel to the Middle East on Wednesday in order to hold talks with Gulf partners on reopening the Strait of Hormuz permanently after a temporary US-Iran ceasefire agreement.
“I welcome the ceasefire agreement reached overnight, which will bring a moment of relief to the region and the world,” Starmer said in a statement.
Read the full story below
Starmer heads to Gulf as he says he will ‘support US-Iran ceasefire’
Germany welcomes ceasefire in Iran conflict
07:15 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarGerman foreign minister Johann Wadephul this morning welcomed the two-week ceasefire the US and Iran agreed on Tuesday."
I welcome the decision by the warring parties to agree to a ceasefire in the Iran war," the minister wrote on X.
"This must be the crucial first step towards lasting peace, for the consequences of the war continuing would be incalculable," he said.
Iran claims victory against 'criminal America'
07:05 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarIran has claimed strategic victory over the US and Israel and pushed back against Donald Trump on his ceasefire remarks.
Iran's Supreme National Security Council last night said it had accepted a two-week ceasefire in the war with the US and Israel.
"The enemy has suffered an undeniable, historic and crushing defeat in its cowardly, illegal and criminal war against the Iranian nation," it said in a statement.
It said Iran achieved a "great victory and forced the criminal America to accept its 10-point plan".
Trump earlier today claimed "total and complete victory" in his war against Iran.
Bahrain says it extinguished blaze caused by Iranian strike
06:35 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarBahrain's civil defence workers have extinguished a fire at a building following a “sinful Iranian aggression”, the home ministry said.
It added that there have been no injuries.
Bahrain sounded its missile alert sirens this morning, hours after the US and Iran said they reached a two-week ceasefire in the war for negotiations.
It wasn’t clear from the ceasefire announcement when it would begin, even though Pakistan's prime minister announced it was "effective immediately".
Watch: Strait of Hormuz expected to reopen as part of Trump’s eleventh hour ceasefire deal
06:25 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarAsian countries welcome Iran ceasefire deal
06:23 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarGovernments across Asia are welcoming the announcement of a ceasefire deal between the US and Iran.
Many Asian countries are reliant on oil and gas imports via the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has agreed to open up for shipping as part of the deal to halt US and Israeli airstrikes.
Malaysia’s prime minister Anwar Ibrahim said the two-week ceasefire “augurs well for the restoration of peace and stability, not only to the region but also the rest of the world.”
Indonesia also welcomed the latest development as an effort to keep the door open for diplomacy in order to promote de-escalation.
Yvonne Mewengkang, spokesperson for Indonesia’s foreign affairs, said: “The Indonesian government will always support any constructive diplomatic efforts, including those that have the potential to lead to a more permanent resolution, with the protection of civilians as our primary focus.”
South Korea’s foreign ministry praised mediation efforts by countries including Pakistan and called for a swift restoration of peace and stability in the Middle East.
It said it expects the “prompt and safe” resumption of free passage through the Strait of Hormuz for all vessels, including South Korean ships.
Japan’s chief cabinet secretary said his nation “welcomes the announcement as a positive development. We hope they reach an agreement.”
Missile alert sirens go off in Bahrain
06:08 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarBahrain sounded its missile alert sirens this morning, hours after the US and Iran said they reached a two-week ceasefire in the war for negotiations.
It wasn’t immediately clear from the ceasefire announcement when it would begin.
Iran has continued to fire missiles at Gulf Arab states and Israel since the ceasefire announcements, according to reports.
Key bridge between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain reopens
06:05 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarThe King Fahd Causeway, a key bridge linking Saudi Arabia and the island kingdom of Bahrain, reopened this morning after being shut for hours over possible incoming fire from Iran.
The King Fahd Causeway Authority said in its announcement on X that vehicle traffic has resumed.
UN chief urges end to hostilities
05:40 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarUN secretary-general Antonio Guterres calls on all parties “to abide by the terms of the ceasefire in order to pave the way towards a lasting and comprehensive peace in the region,” his spokesperson said.
Guterres also calls on the parties to comply with their obligations under international law, spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said.
International law requires the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure.
“The secretary-general underscores that an end to hostilities is urgently needed to protect civilian lives and alleviate human suffering,” Dujarric said.
Jean Arnault, the secretary-general’s personal envoy, is in the region “to support efforts toward lasting peace,” the spokesperson added.
Israeli strike kills 8 in southern Lebanese coastal city
05:30 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarLebanon's health ministry said at least eight people were killed and another 22 people were wounded in an Israeli airstrike on Sidon in southern Lebanon.
The strike came without warning, and the Israeli military did not immediately specify who it was targeting.
At least 1,530 people have been killed in the latest war between Israel and the Hezbollah militant group, according to reports.
Trump says ceasefire could bring 'Golden Age of the Middle East'
05:25 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarDonald Trump, in a new post on Truth Social, said: "A big day for World Peace! Iran wants it to happen, they’ve had enough! Likewise, so has everyone else!"
"The United States of America will be helping with the traffic buildup in the Strait of Hormuz. There will be lots of positive action! Big money will be made.
"Iran can start the reconstruction process. We’ll be loading up with supplies of all kinds, and just “hangin’ around” in order to make sure that everything goes well. I feel confident that it will."Just like we are experiencing in the US, this could be the Golden Age of the Middle East!!!"
Trump says US won 'total and complete victory' after Iran ceasefire deal
05:18 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarDonald Trump has claimed the US won a "total and complete victory" after agreeing to a two-week ceasefire deal with Iran.
"Total and complete victory. 100 per cent. No question about it," Trump told AFP news agency.
Islamic Resistance in Iraq will halt operations for two weeks
05:10 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarThe Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of Iran-backed Iraqi militias, said in a statement early this morning that it will halt its operations in Iraq and the region for two weeks.
The announcement came hours after the US and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire.
Iran-backed militias in Iraq have claimed responsibility for dozens of attacks on US bases and other facilities in the country in solidarity with Tehran since the war began.
Trump threatens CNN over its Iran coverage
05:04 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarPresident Donald Trump fired off a seething threat against CNN Tuesday night in response to its reporting Iran had claimed a "great victory" over the US following the president's announcement to delay his ceasefire deadline by two weeks.
Trump had originally given Iran until 8pm ET on Tuesday to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, warning a refusal would mean a "whole civilization will die."
Around 90 minutes before that deadline, Trump and the White House released statements saying the US and Iran had agreed to negotiate an end to hostilities that would include the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the suspension of fighting for two weeks.
More here.
Trump threatens CNN over its Iran coverage after announcing ceasefire plan
US confirms release of journalist kidnapped in Iraq
05:00 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarUS secretary of state Marco Rubio has confirmed that American journalist Shelley Kittleson, who was kidnapped last week in Iraq, has been released.
Kittleson was abducted by the Iran-backed Iraqi militia Kataib Hezbollah from a street corner in Baghdad on 31 March.
Rubio said in a statement posted on X: "We are relieved that this American is now freed and are working to support her safe departure from Iraq.
"He thanked the Iraqi authorities, as well as the FBI and US defence department and other US agencies, for their work towards securing Kittleson's release.
Trump believes China convinced Iran to negotiate
04:59 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarUS president Donald Trump told the AFP news agency that he believes China was able to convince Iran to negotiate a ceasefire.
China, Tehran's biggest trading partner, spoke with the Iranians to get them on board, two officials told AP.
Chinese officials were in touch with Iranian officials to encourage Tehran to find a path to a ceasefire deal as the negotiations were evolving, the officials said.
Beijing had been working with intermediaries, including Pakistan, Turkey and Egypt, as it tried to use its influence, said one of the officials, who was not authorised to comment publicly on the diplomatic matter.
Earlier Tuesday, Mao Ning, a spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry, said: "All parties need to demonstrate sincerity and quickly end this war that should not have happened in the first place."
Israel continues to strike Lebanon
04:50 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar Australia's Albanese criticises Trump's ‘civilisation-ending’ Iran threat
04:40 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarAustralian prime minister Anthony Albanese has condemned Donald Trump’s "civilisation-ending" warning to Iran before the US president announced a temporary ceasefire.
“I don’t think it’s appropriate to use language such as that from the president of the United States and I think it will cause some concern,” he told Sky News Australia.
“The potential of damage to civilian infrastructure in Iran was an extraordinary statement, and the impact that would have arisen from an escalation in the Iranian response would have led to greater economic damage.”
Trump had warned “a whole civilisation will die tonight, never to be brought back again".
Pakistan invites Iran and the US to talks in Islamabad
04:27 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarPakistan's prime minister Shehbaz Sharif said he is inviting Iran and the US to meet in Islamabad and have further discussions.
In a post on X, Sharif said that both parties have agreed on the ceasefire.
"I warmly welcome the sagacious gesture and extend deepest gratitude to the leadership of both the countries," he said.
"And invite their delegations to Islamabad on Friday, 10 April 2026, to further negotiate for a conclusive agreement to settle all disputes."There has been no public response from the US or Iran to the invitation.