Israel-Iran conflict LIVE updates: Trump to decide on US involvement ‘within two weeks'; Iranian missiles hit Israeli hospital
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In brief: The latest on the situation in the Middle East
Welcome to our ongoing coverage of the crisis in the Middle East as hostilities between Israel and Iran show no sign of cooling.
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Here's a quick overview of where we're at this morning:
Iran launched several missiles yesterday, penetrating Israeli defences and hitting civilian areas, including a hospital in the south. Other parts of Israel, including Tel Aviv and Ramat Gan, were also targeted.
Iran's state media said Iranian missiles were targeting the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) command and intelligence headquarters adjacent to the Soroka Hospital that was struck.
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the attacks and instructed the IDF to increase its intensity of strikes against Iran
US media reported that the Trump administration was preparing for a possible strike on Iran in the coming days, which would be a significant escalation in the crisis.
The IDF claimed it had killed two Hezbollah commanders during strikes in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah has not confirmed either of the deaths.
Israel said it had attacked an Iranian nuclear reactor in Arak and dozens of other military and government targets throughout the country. The International Atomic Energy Agency reported there was no radiation threat from Arak and that the site was not operational.
Iran's deputy foreign minister warned against any direct US involvement in the conflict, saying Iran had 'all the necessary options on the table.'
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi will meet his British, French and German counterparts as well as the European Union's top diplomat on Friday in Geneva, Iranian state media reported.
Meanwhile, Israel's war in Gaza goes on and the death toll continues to climb.
You can catch up with everything we know about the conflict on our regularly updated 'what we know so far' page.
4.01am
Europe takes the diplomatic route
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will meet in Geneva later today (AEST) with counterparts from Germany, France and the UK.
Europe's push for diplomacy is in sharp contrast to messages from Washington, with US President Donald Trump openly weighing bombing Iran. The three European countries played an important role in the negotiations over the original 2015 nuclear deal with Iran.
It will be a busy day for UK's Foreign Secretary David Lammy, who has already been in Washington today to speak with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Lammy was then expected to jump on a plane to Geneva.
He may prove pivotal in any negotiations, acting as a 'middle man' between Europe, the US-Israeli alliance, and Iran. He will no doubt have conveyed to Rubio concerns from British Prime Minister Keir Starmer over US involvement in the Middle East. Starmer held an emergency meeting 'Cobra' meeting at Downing Street to discuss just that on Wednesday.
4.01am
Trump will make decision 'within two weeks' on US action
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt gave one of her regular media briefings a short time ago.
She said US President Donald Trump's main priority was ensuring that Iran does not make nuclear weapons.
Leavitt claimed that Iran obtaining nuclear weapons would represented 'an existential threat' not just to Israel but to the US and the entire world.
She did, however, say that Trump believes there is still a good chance of negotiations with Iran, but she would not offer any further details.
Trump would decide on any US action 'within two weeks' – indicating there could be no resolution any time soon, repeating the common Trump political cry of 'peace through strength'.
Leavitt also confirmed that Trump would attend a NATO summit later this week.
4.00am
In brief: The latest on the situation in the Middle East
Welcome to our ongoing coverage of the crisis in the Middle East as hostilities between Israel and Iran show no sign of cooling.
Loading
Here's a quick overview of where we're at this morning:
Iran launched several missiles yesterday, penetrating Israeli defences and hitting civilian areas, including a hospital in the south. Other parts of Israel, including Tel Aviv and Ramat Gan, were also targeted.
Iran's state media said Iranian missiles were targeting the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) command and intelligence headquarters adjacent to the Soroka Hospital that was struck.
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the attacks and instructed the IDF to increase its intensity of strikes against Iran
US media reported that the Trump administration was preparing for a possible strike on Iran in the coming days, which would be a significant escalation in the crisis.
The IDF claimed it had killed two Hezbollah commanders during strikes in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah has not confirmed either of the deaths.
Israel said it had attacked an Iranian nuclear reactor in Arak and dozens of other military and government targets throughout the country. The International Atomic Energy Agency reported there was no radiation threat from Arak and that the site was not operational.
Iran's deputy foreign minister warned against any direct US involvement in the conflict, saying Iran had 'all the necessary options on the table.'
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi will meet his British, French and German counterparts as well as the European Union's top diplomat on Friday in Geneva, Iranian state media reported.
Meanwhile, Israel's war in Gaza goes on .
You can catch up with everything we know about the conflict on our regularly updated 'what we know so far' page.
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