‘Israel acted alone’ in striking Iranian gasfield, Netanyahu says
Taking questions from reporters at the press conference in Jerusalem, Netanyahu was asked if he had told Donald Trump about Israel’s strike on Iran’s South Pars gasfield.
Netanyahu did not address whether Trump was made aware of the plan ahead of time. He said only:
double quotation markIsrael acted alone against the gas compound.
President Trump asked us to hold off on future attacks, and we’re holding out.
As I reported earlier, Trump has distanced himself from Israel’s attack on the world’s largest gasfield (which he claimed on Wednesday that Washington “knew nothing” about), and confirmed today that he told Netanyahu to stop attacking Iran’s energy facilities.
Israel previously claimed that the strike was coordinated with the US. Reports of that, citing Israeli officials, have swirled today – contradicting Trump’s claim – along with other reports that the US was “aware” of the strike.
When he spoke on this in the Oval Office earlier, Trump was not specific about when exactly he had spoken to the Israeli PM.
Updated at 16.04 EDT
Key events
35m ago
Japan tried to explain to Trump that it cannot join his Iran war due to its US-drafted constitution
42m ago
Iran fires at Israel after Netanyahu boasts of war gains
1h ago
European Council calls for de-escalation as it ‘deplores loss of civilian life’
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The day so far
2h ago
US says it has destroyed Iranian missile plant
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Analysis: Strike on Iran gasfield exposes US-Israel rift as Trump claims he did not know
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France says it will double its humanitarian aid to Lebanon to $20m
4h ago
‘Israel acted alone’ in striking Iranian gasfield, Netanyahu says
4h ago
Netanyahu denies that Israel ‘dragged’ US into war with Iran
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‘I told him don’t do that’: Trump confirms he told Netanyahu to stop attacks on Iranian energy facilities
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Iranian attack damages Israeli oil refinery in Haifa
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Trump says he is not putting US troops in region amid Iran war
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Gabbard: ‘US and Israel have different objectives in Iran war’
9h ago
More than 1,000 people killed in Lebanon in Israel-Hezbollah war, says health ministry
9h ago
UK and allies say they are ready to join ‘efforts to ensure safe passage’ in strait of Hormuz
10h ago
Israel says US helped coordinate gasfield attack, despite Trump’s claim he knew nothing about it
10h ago
Trump administration has ‘lost control of its own foreign policy’, says Oman
10h ago
Hegseth reiterates claim that Trump ‘knew nothing’ about attack on gasfield
11h ago
Caine admits Iran retains ‘some capability’ to attack US assets
11h ago
Hegseth says US ‘on track’ but declines to say when war will end
11h ago
‘We will finish this’, says Hegseth of Iran war
11h ago
Starmer: ‘We are working towards a swift resolution to the situation in the Middle East’
13h ago
Energy sites in the Middle East that have come under attack
13h ago
Iran considers transit fees on shipping through strait of Hormuz – state media
13h ago
Four people killed in overnight Iranian missile attacks against Israel
14h ago
Drone crashed at Saudi oil refinery, defence ministry says
15h ago
European gas prices jump 35% as attacks on energy infrastructure in the Gulf intensify
16h ago
Oil refinery targeted in Kuwait – state media
16h ago
Interim summary
17h ago
Australia seeks to be ‘over-prepared’ amid fuel crunch
19h ago
Saudi Arabia reserves ‘right to take military actions’ over Iran attacks
19h ago
Ship attacked near strait of Hormuz – UK agency
20h ago
Cathay Pacific suspends Dubai flights until end of April
20h ago
Opening summary
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Authorities in the United Arab Emirates authorities say they have dismantled a “terrorist network” funded and operated by Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Iran, and arrested its members.
The network was involved in “money laundering, financing terrorism and threatening national security”, the state news agency said, according to Reuters. There was no immediate comment from Hezbollah or Iran.
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Lorenzo Tondo
Reporting from Jerusalem
A fresh ballistic missile launch from Iran has been detected, with the Jerusalem area identified as a potential target, as sirens sound once again — the fourth alert within the space of an hour.
Loud explosions are echoing across the city.
Despite repeated claims by Israel and the US that Iran’s airspace is under control, Tehran has continued to penetrate Israel’s defences, with missiles reaching the skies over the holy city and triggering successive warnings.
ShareJapan tried to explain to Trump that it cannot join his Iran war due to its US-drafted constitution
Robert Mackey
According to a pool report, Japan’s prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, was asked by Japanese reporters if Donald Trump had privately asked her to dispatch Japanese naval vessels to help reopen the strait of Hormuz.
Takaichi said that she explained to Trump that Japan’s ability to deploy military forces overseas is still limited by the constitution drafted for Japan by the United States after the second world war.
“While the conversation was of a sensitive nature, the consensus was that ensuring the safety of the Strait of Hormuz is of the utmost importance,” Takaichi said. “However, there are certain actions we can and cannot take within the scope of Japanese law, so I provided a detailed and thorough explanation of this matter.”
Japanese law does permit Takaichi to deploy Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force vessels on law-enforcement operations, such as the anti-piracy mission off Somalia Japan took part in in 2009.
But the prime minister is still barred by law from ordering naval ships into combat, and Takaichi has so far declined to say whether Japan consider the US attack on Iran legal under international law.
Updated at 18.48 EDT
Iran fires at Israel after Netanyahu boasts of war gains
Iran launched multiple rounds of missiles towards Israel late on Thursday after Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Tehran’s capabilities had been “decimated” by the war, with the Iranian barrage triggering loud blasts over Jerusalem.
Israel’s military said it identified three rounds of missile fire in the hour and a half preceding midnight local time.
There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage from the Magen David Adom emergency services.
But AFP reporters heard several loud blasts over Jerusalem following the Iranian fire, as air raid sirens rang out across the city.
As we reported earlier, Netanyahu told a press conference on Thursday evening that Israel and the United States were “winning” the war they launched on Iran 20 days ago.
“We are taking action to destroy the industries that make it possible to build missiles. Iran no longer has the capacity to enrich uranium and manufacture ballistic missiles,” the Israeli prime minister said.
“We are winning and Iran is being decimated.”
ShareEuropean Council calls for de-escalation as it ‘deplores loss of civilian life’
The European Council has called for “de-escalation and maximum restraint” after meeting to discuss the crisis in the Middle East.
In a statement published after the meeting on behalf of EU leaders, it said that it “deplores the loss of civilian life and is closely monitoring the far-reaching impact of the hostilities”.
It said it “strongly condemns” Iran’s “indiscriminate military strikes against countries in the region and expresses its solidarity with countries affected”.
It also welcomed increased efforts announced by member states to “ensure freedom of navigation in the strait of Hormuz, once the conditions are met”.
The European Union “stands firmly and unequivocally in support of member states close to the region”, it said, adding that it also “acknowledges the intention of Cyprus to initiate a discussion with the UK on the UK bases in Cyprus, and stands ready to provide assistance as needed”.
Earlier, Cypriot president Nikos Christodoulides told the BBC that the UK’s two military bases on Cyprus are a “colonial consequence” and “an open and frank discussion with the British government” about their status and future is due after the conflict in the Middle East is resolved.
The European Council statement concluded:
double quotation markThe European Council reiterates that Iran must never be allowed to acquire a nuclear weapon and that it must comply with its legally binding nuclear safeguard obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty.
The European Council urges Iran to resume full cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Updated at 18.17 EDT
The day so far
Benjamin Netanyahu denied that Donald Trump was “dragged” into the war by Israel, as he tried to pour cold water on suggestions that Israel influenced the US’s decision to attack Iran and amid growing signs that the US and Israel are not aligned on their war aims. “Does anyone really think that someone can tell President Trump what to do, the Israeli prime minister said, later adding: “I misled no one.”
Netanyahu also stated that Israel “acted alone” in striking Iran’s South Pars gasfield, though he didn’t address whether or not he had told Trump about the attack beforehand. “President Trump asked us to hold off on future attacks, and we’re holding out,” he added. Trump has distanced himself from Israel’s attack on the world’s largest gasfield (which he claimed on Wednesday that Washington “knew nothing” about), and confirmed today that he told Netanyahu to stop attacking Iran’s energy facilities.
Netanyahu also claimed that Iran has “no ability to enrich uranium at the moment and no capability of manufacturing ballistic missiles”. He said that the war would take “as long as is necessary”, adding: “We will crush them entirely, all those capabilities.”
Trump said there are no plans to deploy US ground troops in the region and claimed that the US operation was “ahead of schedule”, but he did confirm that the Pentagon has asked Congress to approve a further $200bn to fund the war.
US Central Command said that it has destroyed the Iranian regime’s surface-to-surface missile plant in Karaj. The plant was used to “assemble ballistic missiles that threatened Americans, neighboring countries, and commercial shipping,” Centcom said.
France will double its humanitarian aid to Lebanon to the value of €17m ($19.7m), foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot said, as Lebanon grapples with Israel’s latest military assault. Israeli strikes on Beirut and its ground invasion of southern Lebanon have killed over 1,000 people, including 118 children, and wounded more than 2,500 since Tel Aviv’s renewed offensive on 2 March. More than one million – roughly one in five – of the population have been displaced.
An Iranian missile attack hit Israel’s Oil Refineries in the northern port city of Haifa but did not cause “significant damage“, Israel’s energy ministry said. Energy minister Eli Cohen said power was briefly disrupted, with electricity restored to most of those who were affected, Reuters reported.
ShareUS says it has destroyed Iranian missile plant
US Central Command said earlier that it has destroyed the Iranian regime’s surface-to-surface missile plant in Karaj, Iran.
The plant was used to “assemble ballistic missiles that threatened Americans, neighboring countries, and commercial shipping,” Centcom said.
Updated at 17.26 EDT
Analysis: Strike on Iran gasfield exposes US-Israel rift as Trump claims he did not know
Andrew Roth
The US-Israeli war against Iran has exposed further divisions between the two countries after an Israeli strike on Iran’s largest gasfield angered US allies in the Gulf and prompted Donald Trump to say he knew nothing in advance about the attack – a claim that Israeli officials disputed.
Israel’s efforts to bring about regime change and its attacks on critical infrastructure have increasingly raised criticisms among US allies that Washington has effectively allowed its foreign policy to be hijacked by Netanyahu’s government.
“The American administration’s greatest miscalculation, of course, was allowing itself to be drawn into this war in the first place,” wrote Badr Albusaidi, the foreign minister of Oman. “This is not America’s war, and there is no likely scenario in which both Israel and America will get what they want from it.”
Read Andrew’s full report here:
ShareFrance says it will double its humanitarian aid to Lebanon to $20m
France will double its humanitarian aid to Lebanon to the value of €17m ($19.7m), foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Thursday, as Lebanon grapples with Israel’s latest military assault.
Barrot made the announcement on his social media account as he visited Beirut, as part of efforts to get a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.
He will also travel to Israel on Friday, the French foreign ministry said, to discuss with Israeli authorities regional security and humanitarian aid issues, and attempts to de-escalate the conflicts in the Middle East.
Jean-Yves Le Drian, France’s special envoy for Lebanon, had said earlier this week that it was unreasonable to expect the Lebanese government to disarm Iran-backed Hezbollah while the country is being bombed by Israel.
Israel has rebuffed an offer of direct talks from Beirut as too little, too late by a government that shares its goal of wanting Hezbollah disarmed but fears that acting against it could risk civil war.
Israeli strikes on Beirut and its ground invasion of southern Lebanon have killed over 1,000 people, including 118 children, and wounded more than 2,500 since Tel Aviv’s renewed offensive on 2 March. More than one million – roughly one in five – of the population have been displaced.
A displaced woman and children who fled Israeli strikes in Dahiyeh, Beirut’s southern suburbs, collects a blanket at a temporary settlement along the Beirut waterfront. Photograph: Hussein Malla/APShare
Updated at 17.01 EDT
Asked if he “misled the US government into starting this war”, Netanyahu replied:
double quotation markWell, I misled no one.
And I didn’t have to convince President Trump about the need to prevent Iran from developing its nuclear programme, putting it underground, and being able to launch nuclear-tipped missiles at the United States. He understood that.
I didn’t need to explain it to him – he explained it to me.
He added that his partnership with Trump is the “only way to avoid this catastrophic development”.
Updated at 16.11 EDT
‘Israel acted alone’ in striking Iranian gasfield, Netanyahu says
Taking questions from reporters at the press conference in Jerusalem, Netanyahu was asked if he had told Donald Trump about Israel’s strike on Iran’s South Pars gasfield.
Netanyahu did not address whether Trump was made aware of the plan ahead of time. He said only:
double quotation markIsrael acted alone against the gas compound.
President Trump asked us to hold off on future attacks, and we’re holding out.
As I reported earlier, Trump has distanced himself from Israel’s attack on the world’s largest gasfield (which he claimed on Wednesday that Washington “knew nothing” about), and confirmed today that he told Netanyahu to stop attacking Iran’s energy facilities.
Israel previously claimed that the strike was coordinated with the US. Reports of that, citing Israeli officials, have swirled today – contradicting Trump’s claim – along with other reports that the US was “aware” of the strike.
When he spoke on this in the Oval Office earlier, Trump was not specific about when exactly he had spoken to the Israeli PM.
Updated at 16.04 EDT
Netanyahu denies that Israel ‘dragged’ US into war with Iran
The Israeli prime minister went on to tout his “historic” cooperation with the United States.
double quotation markWe have brought our friend the US to a cooperation never seen in history.
The great collaboration between myself and my good friend Trump is unprecedented.
He added that he wanted to dispel the “fake news … that Israel somehow dragged the United States into conflict with Iran”. He said:
double quotation markDoes anyone really think that someone can tell President Trump what to do? Come on.
Trump “always makes his decisions on what he thinks is good for America … and for future generations”, he claimed.
It has become increasingly evident that the US and Israel are not aligned on their war aims and, with no signs of regime change in Iran, how to proceed.
It also comes amid mounting debate within the US about why Trump joined Israel in this war, which came to a head on Wednesday with the dramatic resignation of Trump ally Joe Kent as director of the national counterterrorism center in protest over the war.
“I cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran,” Kent wrote in a resignation letter posted to X. “Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby.”
Updated at 16.38 EDT
War on Iran will take ‘as long as is necessary’, says Netanyahu
Benjamin Netanyahu went on to say that the Middle East has changed “beyond recognition”, with Israel “stronger than ever” and Iran “weaker than ever”.
He said they are wiping out Iran’s industrial base in a way “that we didn’t do before”, but “there’s still more work to do, and we’re going to do it”.
He had earlier said that the war against Iran could end “a lot faster than people think”, but added that it would take “as long as is necessary”.
Updated at 15.54 EDT
Iran has ‘no ability to enrich uranium and create ballistic missiles’, says Netanyahu, as he outlines three goals for war
Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is holding a press conference, which he opened with a message to Israeli citizens that he was proud of their resilience.
Amid growing chatter that the US and Israel are not aligned on how to proceed with their war on Iran, he went on to outline Israel’s three objectives for the operation.
These are, he claimed, to “completely annihilate” Iran’s nuclear programme and its ballistic missile programme, and to create conditions for Iranians to “take their fate into their own hands”.
Twenty days into the war, Iran has “no ability to enrich uranium at the moment and no capability of manufacturing ballistic missiles”, he said.
double quotation markWe will crush them entirely, all those capabilities.
Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at a press conference in Jerusalem. Photograph: Ronen Zvulun/AFP/Getty ImagesShare
Updated at 15.13 EDT