Welcome to our coverage
Hello, and welcome to our live coverage of the United States and Israel’s war on Iran, as well as Israel’s attacks on Lebanon.
Stay with us for the latest news and analyses from across the Middle East and beyond.
You can find our updates from Friday, July 3, here.
Motorists drive past a billboard bearing a picture of Iran’s slain Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, as funeral ceremonies begin in Tehran on July 3, 2026 [AFP]
A recap of recent developments
- The opening day of funeral ceremonies for Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed with members of his family at the onset of the US-Israel war on Iran, has concluded.
- The leaders of the United Kingdom and France have released a joint declaration concerning the Strait of Hormuz, labelling it “a vital artery for the global economy” and emphasising that “restoring safe transit for ships of all nations through the Strait is a matter of global concern”.
- Tehran has pledged to utilise all accessible legal and diplomatic avenues to contest what Iran’s president described as illegal actions carried out against the nation by the United States and Israel.
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump have conducted discussions, during which they agreed to arrange an upcoming meeting in the United States.
- Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf stated during a meeting with his Uzbek counterpart that the US needs to acknowledge that the geopolitical landscape has shifted following the war against Iran.
- The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said that it “will respond and strike with utmost firmness and unprecedented force” to counter any threats from Houthi forces.
Israel’s war on Gaza in numbers
