US-Israel-Iran War Live News Updates: Iran Slams US; Hegseth Says More Iranian Leaders Could Be Targeted

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has sought to reaffirm her alliance with President Donald Trump after the president this week seemed to complain that Japan was among the nations that did not quickly join his call to help protect the Strait of Hormuz.

Takaichi, who met with Trump at the White House, told the Republican president that Japan has opposed Iran's development of its nuclear programme and appealed to his desire to be seen as a peacemaker, despite his launching a war of choice with Iran.
 

The US and its allies are taking aggressive action to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, with low-flying attack jets targeting Iranian naval vessels and Apache helicopters shooting down Iran's drones, according to American military officials, as reported by Wall Street Journal.

The United Nations Security Council held an urgent closed meeting on Thursday during which Gulf countries stressed the need for Iran to halt attacks on them, said Bahrain's UN Ambassador Jamal Alrowaiei, the Arab representative on the UN's most powerful body.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has asked airlines to avoid the airspaces of Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Qatar and United Arab Emirates (UAE), according to an advisory.

Indian airlines can operate flights over Oman and Saudi Arabia airspaces subject to certain conditions, the regulator said.

It told the airlines not to operate below FL 320 or 32,000 feet within the airspace of Saudi Arabia and Oman located south of the segments defined by following compulsory reporting points.

About the nine airspaces, the DGCA asked airlines to "refrain from operating within the affected airspace...at all flight levels and altitudes".

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian has slammed Israel's government, calling their actions "state terrorism" that undermine international law. He's also criticised the US for escalating tensions, citing aggression against Iran and the killing of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Pezeshkian warns that Washington's actions threaten global stability, cautioning, "If the world fails to stand firm, its flames will burn many."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to leaders from Qatar, France, Jordan, Oman and Malaysia on Thursday, and expressed concern over the evolving situation in the Middle East. Seeking de-escalation in the conflict in West Asia, Modi strongly condemned the attacks on the region's energy infrastructure.

In separate telephonic conversations with five leaders, the prime minister highlighted the need for dialogue and diplomacy for an early restoration of peace, security and stability in the region, and laid stress on safe and free navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. He reiterated that India stands in solidarity with Qatar and strongly condemns the attacks on the region's energy infrastructure.

The prime minister has also spoken to several other world leaders, including those from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Israel and Iran, since the conflict began.

Israel pledged to refrain from more strikes on a key Iranian gas field after Iran intensified attacks on oil and natural gas facilities around the Gulf, raising the stakes in a war that has sent shock waves through energy markets and the global economy.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on late Thursday that, at the request of President Donald Trump, Israel will hold off on any further attacks on the offshore gas field.

The Pentagon is seeking $200 billion in additional funds for the Iran war, a sizable amount that is certain to be met with questions from Congress, which would need to approve any new money. The department sent the request to the White House, according to a senior administration official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the private information.

Asked about the figure at a press conference, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth did not directly confirm the amount, saying it could change. "It takes money to kill bad guys," Hegseth said. But he said "we're going back to Congress and our folks there to ensure that we're properly funded."

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth implied more Iranian leaders could be targeted, referring to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Basij, a powerful internal security force whose leader was killed by Israel this week.

Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that US forces were attacking deeper into Iranian territory, with warplanes hunting Iranian boats in the strait and helicopters striking Iranian drones. Caine said the US. military has also dropped 5,000-pound bombs on underground weapons-storage facilities.