Iran will retaliate 'instantly' in an attack: Army spokesperson | LIVE

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Qatar Emir and Iranian president discussed de-escalation in the region by telephone

The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and the Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian spoke by telephone to review the regional situation and de-escalation efforts, the Qatari news agency QNA reported Thursday, amid U.S. threats of military intervention against Tehran.

According to QNA, they discussed "the latest regional and international developments, particularly the evolving situation, as well as efforts to reduce tensions and establish stability."

The two leaders also emphasized the importance of dialogue and diplomacy.

Iran will retaliate 'instantly' in the event of an attack

Iran will retaliate "instantly" in the event of an attack, the military spokesman said Thursday, noting that "numerous" U.S. bases in the region were within "range of Iranian missiles."

"A decisive response will come instantly," promised Brigadier General Mohammad Akramiya, referring to the "serious vulnerabilities" of U.S. aircraft carriers, just days after the deployment of the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln off the coast of Iran.

Iran: 'We must prepare for war': Iran's vice president

Iran must be prepared "for war," declared Iran's First Vice President, Mohammad Reza Aref, on Thursday, in response to threats of a U.S. military intervention.

"Today, we must be prepared for war. The Islamic Republic of Iran never starts a war, but if one is imposed upon it, it will defend itself forcefully," he stated, as quoted by the ISNA news agency.

Trump says it 'looks like' Hamas will disarm

U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday that Hamas would give up weapons, a step the militants have not confirmed, in what would be a major step forward in a fragile cease-fire with Israel.

"A lot of people said they'll never disarm. It looks like they're going to disarm," Trump told a Cabinet meeting.

Iran: UN chief calls for 'dialogue' to avoid 'a crisis with devastating consequences'

U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres called for dialogue with Iran, particularly on the nuclear issue, to avoid a crisis with "devastating consequences for the region."

"We have strongly condemned the horrific repression that has taken place in Iran," the U.N. chief said at a press conference at the organization's headquarters in New York.

"We are following the ongoing discussions with concern and believe it is important to establish a dialogue in order to reach an agreement, particularly on the nuclear issue, and thus avoid a crisis that could have devastating consequences for the region," he continued.

'Enough is enough': Former Iranian Prime Minister Mousavi calls for regime to step down

Former Iranian Prime Minister Mir-Hossein Mousavi, a central figure in the 2009 protest movement, has called on the government to relinquish power after what he calls the “crime” of suppressing the demonstrations.

“In what language must the people say that they do not want this system and that they do not believe your lies? Enough is enough,” Mousavi, who has been under house arrest since 2011, said in a statement released by his media outlet, Kalame.

An 'irresponsible' and 'malicious' decision

Iranian armed forces on Thursday denounced as “irresponsible” and “malicious” the decision by the 27-member states of the European Union to designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the ideological army of the Islamic Republic of Iran, as a “terrorist organization.”

“The EU’s illogical, irresponsible, and malicious decision was undoubtedly taken in blind obedience to the policies of the United States and the Zionist regime [Israel],” the armed forces stated in a statement released by the state-run news agency IRNA.

Trump's threats against Iran: The region doesn't need a 'new war'

The Middle East doesn't need a "new war," EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Thursday, when asked about the possibility of U.S. strikes in Iran.

"I think the region doesn't need a new war," she told reporters after a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels.

Iran's Revolutionary Guard designated 'terrorist' by EU: Israel hails 'historic decision'

Israel on Thursday hailed as a "historic decision" the agreement reached by the foreign ministers of the 27 European Union member states to designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the ideological army of the Islamic Republic of Iran, as a "terrorist organization."

"This is an important and historic decision," said Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar in a message on X, emphasizing that his country had "worked for years, and with increased intensity in recent weeks, to achieve this goal."

Iran: A regime that represses protests 'in blood' is indeed 'terrorist': Von der Leyen

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed on Thursday the decision by EU member states to designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a "terrorist organization."

"Terrorist" is indeed the appropriate term for a regime that represses the protests of its own people in blood," the head of the European executive emphasized on the social network X.

Iran: EU agrees to designate Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as terrorist organization

The foreign ministers of the 27 European Union member states agreed on Thursday to designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a "terrorist organization," following the bloody crackdown on protests in Iran, announced EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas.

"The repression cannot go unanswered," she stated on X, on the sidelines of a meeting of EU foreign ministers. "Any regime that kills thousands of its own citizens is working towards its own downfall," she added.

Gaza: Red Cross says returned bodies of 15 Palestinians after last hostage is returned to Israel

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) announced Thursday that it had returned the bodies of 15 Palestinians to Gaza after the remains of the last Israeli hostage were returned to Israel. The remains were recovered by the army from a cemetery in the northern Gaza Strip.

This transfer “marks the completion of an operation carried out over several months, which reunited families and supported the implementation of the ceasefire agreement” that came into effect on Oct. 10 between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas, after just over two years of war, the ICRC wrote in a statement.

"The operation began in October with the release and transfer of 20 live hostages and 1,808 Palestinian detainees released by the Israeli authorities," the text adds, specifying that "in subsequent phases, the ICRC facilitated the return of the deceased, including 27 of the 28 hostages, and 360 Palestinians."

Russia is ready to evacuate its staff from Iran's Bushehr nuclear plant if necessary

Russia is ready ‍to evacuate its ‍staff from Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant ‌if necessary, Alexei Likhachev, the head of Russia's state ⁠nuclear corporation, was cited as saying on Thursday by the ‌state news agency TASS, and reported by Reuters.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said last year that hundreds ‍of Russians were working at the facility, Iran's only operating nuclear power plant, which Moscow built for ‍Iran.

More nuclear facilities are currently being built at ‌the Bushehr site by Russia.

EU sanctions hit Iranian officials

Among the senior Iranian officials sanctioned by the European Union following the deadly crackdown on protests in Iran in recent weeks is Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni, according to a list published in the EU's Official Journal.

These sanctions also target Iran's Attorney General Mohammad Movahedi-Azad, Police Chief Seyed Majid Feiz Jafari, and several leaders of the Revolutionary Guards, an organization considered to be the armed wing of the crackdown that has left thousands dead.

Head of Iranian army says country ready for 'crushing response,' announces army equipped with 1,000 drones

The head of the Iranian army, General Amir Hatami, has declared himself ready for a "crushing response" to threats of U.S. intervention, after equipping combat regiments with 1,000 strategic drones, state television announced on Thursday.

Faced with "the threats we are facing," the army's "priority is to strengthen its strategic assets with a view to a rapid and crushing response to any invasion or attack," the general said, according to the channel.

On his orders, combat regiments have been equipped with "1,000 strategic drones" manufactured by "the army in cooperation with the Ministry of Defense, in line with new threats and lessons learned from the 12-day war" with Israel in June, the television station added.

Two Palestinians killed by Israeli gunfire in southern Gaza Strip

The Israeli army shot and killed at least two Palestinians near Khan Younis in the southern part of the Gaza Strip on Thursday, medical sources told Reuters.

According to these sources, the two men were killed in an area inside the "Yellow Line," which marks the zone still occupied by the Israeli army and which covers nearly 55 percent of the besieged enclave's territory.

According to the latest figures released Wednesday by the Gaza Health Ministry, at least 492 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli army since the start of the truce, which came into effect on October 10 and is supposed to move into its second phase.

For its part, Israel said four of its soldiers had been killed by Palestinian fighters in Gaza during the same period, with both sides accusing each other of cease-fire violations.

Moving into the second phase, the United States and its mediating partners must address the more controversial issue of disarming Hamas, which the group has long rejected.

The plan also calls for the deployment of an international peacekeeping force.

More than 70,000 Palestinians killed by Israel; Army confirms figures previously released by Gaza Health Ministry

Two Palestinians carry the body of a person killed while waiting for aid, in front of al-Shifa hospital in Gaza on July 3, 2025. (Credit: Omar al-Qattaa/AFP)

The Israeli army confirmed on Wednesday, for the first time, that at least 70,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip since the start of its genocidal offensive against the enclave, according to Israeli media, thus endorsing the figures previously published by the local Health Ministry throughout the war.

"The Israeli army has accepted the estimate of the Health Ministry in Gaza, which is led by Hamas, that about 70,000 Palestinians have been killed during the Israel-Hamas war," reported the Israeli daily Haaretz.

Read more here.

Araghchi expected in Turkey on Friday

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will travel to Turkey tomorrow, Friday, for an official visit, announced ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei.

The announcement comes after a Turkish diplomatic source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP news agency that Turkey plans to offer mediation between Washington and Tehran during Araghchi's visit.

According to this source, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will reaffirm his country's opposition "to any military intervention against Iran" because of "the regional and global risks that such a move would entail."

Read more here.

Iran: the potential for negotiations 'is far from exhausted,' says the Kremlin

The Russian presidency said that the "potential" for negotiations to bear fruit on the Iranian issue was "far from exhausted," after Donald Trump said that "time was running out" before an attack.

"We continue to call on all parties to exercise restraint and refrain from using force to resolve this dispute," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said at his daily press briefing, adding that "any coercive action would only sow chaos in the region."

EU approves new sanctions against Iran

The European Union has approved new sanctions against Iran, targeting several individuals and entities, following the violent crackdown on the protest movement that rocked the country until mid-January.

According to Reuters, this decision also aims to punish Iran for its support of Moscow.

Funeral in southern Lebanon for Hezbollah member killed in an Israeli strike on Tuesday

The funeral was attended by political and social figures, religious scholars, the family of Mardineh and families of other killed Hezbollah members. (Credit: Hezbollah press office)

Hezbollah held a funeral today for one of its members killed by Israel, Hussein Ahmad Mardineh, in the town of Shaaitieh (Sour). Mardineh was killed on Tuesday in Batoulieh (Sour) after an Israeli drone targeted him while he was driving his motorcycle.

The large procession featured chants condemning Israel and the United States, as well as slogans in support of Hezbollah.

Lebanese Army fortifys newly established position in Odaisseh

Members of the Lebanese Army are fortifying the newly established position in the town of Odaisseh (Marjayoun), our correspondent reported.

This comes following several days of repeated Israeli attacks on the town including Israeli incursions and the blowing up of several houses in the area.

An Israeli reconnaissance drone is flying over the skies of several villages in the district of Jezzine, local residents reported.

Iranian armed forces ready 'to deal with all military scenarios'

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has stated that the Iranian armed forces are "fully prepared to respond to all military scenarios," according to Iran's official news agency IRNA.

Quoting IRGC spokesperson Ali Mohammad Naeini, IRNA reported that "detailed action plans are in place" to counter what Tehran describes as "hostile maneuvers" by its adversaries, including possible military action, as the U.S. has mobilized a large armada in the region.

Naeini accused the United States of waging psychological warfare against Iran in recent days, claiming that Washington is using intimidation to sow fear among the Iranian population.

11 countries condemn Israel's demolition of UNRWA headquarters in East Jerusalem

The foreign ministries of 11 countries have reacted to Israel's demolition of the headquarters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in East Jerusalem on Jan. 20.

A joint statement was issued by the foreign ministers of Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Portugal, Spain, and the United Kingdom to "condemn" the demolition.

"This unprecedented act by a U.N. member state against a U.N. institution is a further unacceptable attempt to undermine the institution's ability to act," the ministers wrote.

"We urge the Israeli government to respect its international obligations to ensure the protection and inviolability of U.N. premises, in accordance with the provisions of the 1946 Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations and the U.N. Charter. We call on the Israeli government, as a member state of the U.N., to put an end to the demolitions."

Iranian Parliament Speaker says Iran 'open to dialogue'

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, has said that Tehran is open to genuine negotiations with the United States, according to the Iranian news agency Tasnim.

The agency said Iran is ready for "frank and constructive discussions" with Washington, but that Tehran does not believe this is the type of discussion the U.S. president is seeking. "Trump may have the power to start a war, but he has no control over its outcome," the agency added

The statement comes as Washington and Tehran exchanged calls for dialogue and threats throughout Wednesday, with U.S. President Donald Trump going so far as to declare that "time is running out" for Iran.

European Parliament vote to designate Iranian Revolutionary Guards as 'terrorist organization'

European Union foreign ministers are expected to approve new sanctions against Iran today in Brussels following the crackdown on recent protests that have rocked the country.

The EU is expected to impose travel bans and asset freezes on Iranian officials suspected of involvement in the deaths of thousands of protesters since the movement began.

In response to Tehran's crackdown, the EU is also considering designating the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a "terrorist organization," with a vote on the matter scheduled for later today in the European Parliament.

France, through its Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, announced on Wednesday evening that it was dropping its objections to this measure, which had been demanded by Germany and other EU countries.

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said on Wednesday that the EU has "a duty to move forward" with this designation, which she described as a "historic opportunity," adding that those responsible for the killing of protesters should find "no refuge."

Occupied West Bank: Israeli settlers set fire to houses in a Bedouin community near Ramallah

Israeli settlers set fire to houses in the Bedouin community of Mikhmas, near Ramallah, Haaretz reports, based on the testimony of an activist present at the scene.

According to this source, no one was injured in the attack.

The residents of this community had decided to evacuate the area in the evening and spend the night in a neighboring village due to frequent attacks and assaults by Israeli settlers.

Good morning and welcome to our live blog

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of events in Lebanon, Palestine, Syria and the rest of the region.

We will be keeping close watch of Israeli cease-fire violations in Gaza and southern Lebanon, where attacks have persisted on a near-daily basis despite the precarious truces in place.

In Syria, we are following closely the ongoing conflict between government forces and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the north of the country.

In Iran too, after a month of country-wide protests, the situation is tense, with the EU moving towards designating the Iranian Revolutionary Guards as a "terrorist group."

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