US & ‘Israel’ at war with Iran | Day 27 coverage

US President Donald Trump said Thursday he would not yet strike Iranian power plants as previously threatened after a request from the government in Tehran, and added that talks with the Islamic republic were "going very well."

"As per Iranian Government request, please let this statement serve to represent that I am pausing the period of Energy Plant destruction by 10 Days to Monday, April 6, 2026, at 8 P.M., Eastern Time," Trump said on his Truth Social platform.

"Talks are ongoing and, despite erroneous statements to the contrary by the Fake News Media, and others, they are going very well."

The ‘Israeli’ military said on Thursday it requires additional troops for deployment in southern Lebanon, where they are currently creating what they claim is a “buffer zone” during fighting with Hezbollah.

"On the Lebanese front, the forward defensive zone that we are creating requires additional IDF forces," military spokesman Brigadier General Effie Defrin said in a televised briefing, noting that the military is “operating” simultaneously across multiple fronts, including the West Bank, Gaza and Syria.

Iron Dome interceptors working against a massive rocket salvo fired by Hezbollah towards northern ‘Israel’, with the military saying they fired some 20 rockets.

Warning sirens were activated in Haifa and across the Galilee.

According to the ‘Israeli’ military, most of the rockets were intercepted, and the others were “allowed” to hit open areas.

‘Israel's’ main opposition leader Yair Lapid accused the government Thursday of steering ‘Israel’ toward a "security disaster" due to a shortage of combat soldiers.

"The IDF is stretched to the limit and beyond. The government is leaving the army wounded out on the battlefield," Lapid said in a televised statement, echoing a warning delivered a day earlier by military chief Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir to the security cabinet, according to Hebrew media reports.

"The government is sending the army into a multi-front war without a strategy, without the necessary means, and with far too few soldiers," Lapid said.

The ‘Israeli’ army announced the death in combat on Thursday of a soldier in south Lebanon, just hours after reporting another death from its ranks.

"Sergeant Aviaad Elchanan Volansky, 21, from Jerusalem, a soldier in the 77th Battalion of the 7th Brigade, was killed in action in southern Lebanon," a military statement said.

Four ‘Israeli’ soldiers have now been killed in fighting in south Lebanon since Hezbollah began launching rocket attacks against ‘Israel’ on March 2 to avenge the killing of Iran's supreme leader.

Ukraine and Saudi Arabia will sign an agreement on Thursday on aerial security, during a visit to the kingdom by President Volodymyr Zelensky, a senior official with knowledge of the matter told AFP.

The two sides meeting in Jeddah are due to ink an accord on "security cooperation -- in particular the protection of the skies", said the official.

Abdul Malik al-Houthi, leader of Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi movement, warns of a "military response" should the Middle East war require it.

Warplanes could be heard overhead in northern districts of Tehran on Thursday, shortly before three loud explosions rang out, an AFP correspondent in the Iranian capital said.

The blasts were heard after dark, during rain, and it was not immediately possible to identify what had been hit.

‘Israel’, which earlier said it had killed a senior Iranian naval commander, has announced it plans more "wide-scale" strikes against targets in the Islamic republic.

US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that taking control of Iran's oil was an "option," comparing it to the deal Washington made with Venezuela after capturing Nicolas Maduro.

"It's an option," Trump told reporters at a cabinet meeting when asked if he was looking to take control of Iran's oil, saying that the United States had done "very well" with Venezuela's reserves.

‘Israeli’ Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says that his forces killed the commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) navy - Alireza Tangsiri - who oversees the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, according to Netanyahu.

Jordan activates all-clear alarm

Iran allowed 10 oil tankers to pass through the strategic Strait of Hormuz as a "present" to show it was serious about negotiations to end the war, US President Donald Trump said Thursday.

Referring to cryptic comments earlier this week about a "gift" from Tehran, Trump said Iran allowed eight "big boats of oil" to transit the waterway earlier this week, followed by two

CCTV recording captures the moment two individuals barely survive after a projectile hits a car in Kfar Qasim, ‘Israel’.

Sirens activated in Jordan amid danger

US envoy Steve Witkoff said Thursday there were "strong signs" Iran could be convinced to make a peace deal, confirming that Washington had passed a 15-point plan to Tehran through mediator Pakistan.

"We will see where things lead, and if we can convince Iran that this is the inflection point with no good alternatives for them, other than more death and destruction. We have strong signs that this is a possibility," Witkoff told a cabinet meeting.

All-clear sirens sound across Jordan

Donald Trump said Thursday that US military operations against Iran are "extremely" ahead of schedule, citing an original timeframe of four to six weeks for the war that began nearly a month ago.

"We estimated it would take approximately four to six weeks to achieve our mission. Twenty-six days in we're extremely, really, a lot ahead of schedule," Trump told his first cabinet meeting since the start of the conflict.

Sirens activated in Jordan amid danger

The US military on Thursday said an ‘Israeli’ airstrike that killed the commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards' navy "makes the region safer."

Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of US Central Command (CENTCOM), added in a statement that every Iranian serving in the IRGC navy should "abandon their post and return home to avoid further risk of unnecessary injury or death."

The commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards' navy is Alireza Tangsiri.

Iran has not issued any statement on the matter yet. 

Abdul Malik al-Houthi, leader of Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi movement, warned on Thursday of a "military response" should the Middle East war require it.

The Houthis, a key part of Iran's "axis of resistance", have so far refrained from joining the war sparked by US-‘Israeli’ strikes on Iran, and which has engulfed much of the region.

"As the people of Yemen, we repay loyalty with loyalty," the Houthi leader said. "Any development in the battle that requires a military response, we will promptly undertake it... just as we did in previous rounds."

‘Israeli’ emergency services said Thursday one was killed, following a Hezbollah rocket strike on the north ‘Israeli’ settlement of Nahariya.

Hebrew media reported that rockets fell at three separate locations.

Reports also said a second person remains in critical condition following the attack on Nahariya.

The EU's top diplomat Thursday accused Russia of providing intelligence support to Iran in the Middle East war to "kill Americans", calling on the United States to increase pressure on Moscow.

"We see that Russia is helping Iran with intelligence to target Americans, to kill Americans, and Russia is also supporting Iran now with the drones so that they can attack neighbouring countries and also US military bases," Kaja Kallas told journalists at a G7 meeting outside Paris.

"These wars are very much interlinked... If America wants the war in the Middle East to stop, Iran to stop attacking them, they should also put the pressure on Russia so that they are not able to help them in this," she added, referring to Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

Iran officially delivered its response to the 15-point US proposal aimed at ending the war through mediators, according to a source cited by Tasnim News Agency, affiliated with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

The source said Tehran is now awaiting a response from the other side regarding its position on the proposal.

Iran stressed in its reply the need to stop ongoing aggression and targeted assassinations carried out by what it described as the enemy, according to the report by Tasnim.

The response also called for the establishment of “realistic conditions” to prevent the recurrence of war, alongside guarantees that Iran is compensated for damages from the war.

Tehran said that any agreement to end the war must include all fronts, including “resistance factions,” the source added.

Oil prices surged five percent Thursday as hopes for a peace deal between the United States and Iran wavered.

The international benchmark, Brent North Sea crude, jumped 5.2 percent to $107.54 per barrel, while the main US oil contract, West Texas Intermediate, advanced 4.9 percent to $94.71, with President Donald Trump warning Tehran to engage in talks "before it is too late".

'Israeli' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the assassination of Alireza Tangsiri, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy, in a brief video message on Thursday, saying 'Israel' continues to strike Iran “with full force.”

“We are continuing to strike, with full force, targets of the Iranian terror regime,” Netanyahu said.

Netanyahu framed the operation as a demonstration of 'Israel’s' coordination with the United States, calling it “yet another example of the cooperation between us and our ally, the United States, in pursuit of our shared war objectives.”

No official confirmation has been issued by Iranian authorities.

Sirens sound to announce end of alert period

Air raid sirens blare across Jordan

Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said Thursday that indirect negotiations were being held to end the war in Iran, using Islamabad as an intermediary.

Dar, who is also deputy prime minister, described speculation about "peace talks" as "unnecessary", adding: "In reality, US-Iran indirect talks are taking place through messages being relayed by Pakistan.

"In this context, the United States has shared 15 points, being deliberated upon by Iran. Brotherly countries of Turkiye and Egypt, among others, are also extending their support to this initiative," he wrote on X.

U.S. President Donald Trump criticized NATO allies for not supporting the U.S. and its partners in the conflict against Iran, claiming that Iran’s military has been “decimated” and that the U.S. “does not need the help of anyone.”

His remarks highlight growing tensions between Washington and traditional NATO partners over involvement in the Iran war and control of strategic routes like the Strait of Hormuz.

Defence Minister Israel Katz announced on Thursday that an 'Israeli' airstrike had killed Alireza Tangsiri, commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards' navy.

"Last night, in a precise and lethal operation, the IDF eliminated the commander of the Revolutionary Guards' navy, Tangsiri, along with senior officers of the naval command," Katz said in a video statement.

'Israeli' media report that Alireza Tangsiri, commander of Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guard navy responsible for operations including the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, was killed in an airstrike in the port city of Bandar Abbas.

The reports say his death deals a significant blow to Iran’s military leadership, though there has been no official confirmation from Iranian authorities.

Sirens sound to announce end of alert period

Air raid sirens blare across Jordan

The 'Israeli' army announced on Thursday that one soldier was killed and others hospitalized during clashes in southern Lebanon, as Hezbollah continued to repel the 'Israeli' ground incursion.

Hebrew media reported that Staff Sergeant Ori Greenberg of the Golani Reconnaissance Unit was killed during the operation.

Hezbollah also carried out attacks on Thursday using missiles, drones, and artillery, targeting the 'Israeli' Defense Ministry headquarters in Tel Aviv, as well as 'Israeli' army vehicles and forces in southern Lebanon.

Since March 2, when hostilities between Hezbollah and 'Israel' reignited, three 'Israeli' soldiers have now been killed in Lebanon.

The Iranian Revolutionary Guard reports successfully completing the 82nd wave of Operation True Promise 4 targeting 'Israel'. 

According to a Pakistani official, 'Israel' had planned to target Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, but Pakistan requested Washington to intervene.

The US then asked 'Israel' to back off, ensuring the two officials were not targeted.

Abu Dhabi’s media office reports that debris from an intercepted missile fell on Sweihan Road, causing fatalities, injuries, and vehicle damage.

Sirens sound to announce end of alert period

'Israeli' media report coordinated strikes launched from both Iran and Lebanon toward northern 'Israel'.

Air raid sirens blare across Jordan

Sirens sound to announce end of alert period

Air raid sirens blare again across Jordan

The UAE Ministry of Defence says air defence systems are intercepting incoming missiles and drones, with loud sounds caused by mid-air interceptions.

A new ballistic missile attack from Iran has been detected by the 'Israeli' army targeting central 'Israel'.

Air raid sirens blare across Jordan

Five people are lightly wounded as a result of an Iranian cluster bomb impact in Kafr Qasim, medics say.

Emergency services in 'Israel' reported that fragments from a missile struck a building in the town of Kafr Qasim, raising concerns about possible trapped individuals. Rescue teams are on site assessing the situation.

Central 'Israel' saw injuries after fragments from a cluster missile landed in multiple areas, local media reported. Emergency services responded to affected sites, treating the wounded and securing the zones.

Central 'Israel' experienced the impact of cluster missile fragments, local media reported. The fragments fell across several areas, triggering alerts among residents.

Speaking at a record-breaking $36.8 million fundraiser for the NRCC, US President Donald Trump provided an update on the war in the Middle East, asserting that the US is "winning so big" that the Iranian leadership is now desperate to negotiate. Trump mocked the Iranian government’s public stance of resistance, suggesting that officials are only denying the existence of talks because they fear for their lives.

Trump also took aim at domestic critics, defending his decision to use the term "military operation" rather than "war" to bypass certain congressional approval processes. As the conflict enters its fourth week, Trump warned that he is prepared to "unleash hell" if Tehran rejects the White House's 15-point settlement plan.

Alert period ends in Jordan.

The ‘Israeli’ Home Front Command announced that an alert was sounded after a new Iranian rocket attack was detected targeting central Israel and the areas surrounding Jerusalem.

Sirens blare in Jordan. 

Loud explosions were reported in central 'Israel' and Jerusalem.

Sirens blare in Jordan amid ongoing regional tensions.

The ‘Israeli’ army reported that one of its officers and three soldiers were wounded, including one with serious injuries, after a projectile was fired toward their positions in southern Lebanon.

The Islamic Republic News Agency reported that two teenage boys were killed in what it described as a joint American and ‘Israeli’ attack on a residential area in the village of Kafri in the county of Shiraz on Wednesday evening.

The agency named the boys as Ilya and Amir Hossein Sharafi, describing them as martyrs in the strike that hit homes in the area. The report attributed the attack to US and ‘Israeli’ forces.

The ‘Israeli’ army said it launched a wide wave of attacks targeting infrastructure linked to the Iranian government in the city of Isfahan.

According to the military statement, the strikes focused on facilities considered part of Iran’s strategic infrastructure. No further details on the scale of damage or casualties were immediately released.

Saudi Ministry of Defense announced that its air defenses successfully intercepted and destroyed two drones in the eastern region of the kingdom.

Islamic Resistance in Iraq said it carried out 23 operations over the past 24 hours using dozens of drones against enemy bases in Iraq and neighboring areas.

Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters said that the Iranian military targeted ‘Israeli’ military and security sites in its 80th wave of attacks, coordinated with Hezbollah.

Fragments from recent air defense interceptions fell in the 'Israeli' cities of Rosh HaAyin and Petah Tikva following the launch of rockets from Lebanon, authorities reported.

'Israeli' Channel 12 reported loud explosions in central 'Israel' following the launch of rockets from Lebanon.

United Arab Emirates Ministry of Defense said its air defenses are currently engaging hostile attacks, including missiles and drones, reportedly launched from Iran.

Pentagon will not publish its traditional review of overseas troop deployments, according to Politico, citing senior officials.

Antonio Guterres warned that the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz is “choking the movement of oil, gas [and] fertilizer at a critical moment in the global planting season.”

Iran insisted the strait remains open, stating that ships not affiliated with the US, 'Israel', or their allies can navigate the waterway safely.

Guterres highlighted the toll on civilians, saying: “Across the region and beyond, civilians are enduring serious harm and living under profound insecurity.” He urged an immediate end to hostilities as the most effective way to alleviate human suffering.

Hezbollah announced it targeted a 'Israel' Merkava tank with a guided missile in the town of Dibl, southern Lebanon.

The group said the strike resulted in a direct hit, though no information on casualties or damage has been independently confirmed.

The Lebanese Ministry of Health confirmed that five people were killed and nine injured after two airstrikes by 'Israel' targeted the towns of Al-Bisariyeh and Harouf in southern Lebanon.

The United States Central Command said it has struck more than 10,000 military targets inside Iran, according to remarks reported by The Wall Street Journal.

Citing the commander of US Central Command, the report said American forces had “completely or partially destroyed” most of Iran’s missile and drone manufacturing facilities.

The commander also claimed that about 92 percent of Iran’s largest naval vessels were sunk as a result of US strikes, describing a significant blow to Tehran’s maritime capabilities.

“Our operational assessment is that Iran has lost the ability to effectively project its naval influence,” the commander said.

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense said air defense systems successfully intercepted and destroyed two hostile drones in the country’s eastern region.

In a brief statement, the ministry confirmed the operation, noting that the aerial threats were neutralized before reaching their targets. No casualties or material damage were reported.

Trump is ready to "unleash hell" on Iran if Tehran does not accept a deal to end the war in the Middle East, the White House warns.

"If Iran fails to accept the reality of the current moment, if they fail to understand that they have been defeated militarily and will continue to be, President Trump will ensure they are hit harder than they have ever been hit before," Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt tells reporters during a briefing.