Live
Issued on: 04/04/2026 – 07:07Modified: 04/04/2026 – 08:43
A bridge struck by US airstrikes on Thursday is seen in the town of Karaj, west of Tehran, Iran, Friday, April 3, 2026. © Vahid Salemi, AP
Several blasts were reportedly heard in northern Tehran on Saturday as the Middle East war neared its sixth week. Meanwhile, Iranian and American forces are racing to recover the missing crew member from an American warplane shot down by Iran on Saturday. Follow our liveblog for updates.
04/04/2026 – 08:43Several injured by Israeli strikes on Lebanese city Tyre
Israel has repeatedly struck the ancient southern Lebanese city of Tyre, where several inhabitants have been injured. But locals are reluctant to leave – citing fears than a temporary order would become permanent displacement. Israel has said that it would not be able to destroy Hezbollah without occupying the whole of Lebanon. FRANCE 24’s Olivia Bizo reports from Beirut in Lebanon.
04/04/2026 – 07:14Fire reported at foreign oil companies’ storage facilities in Iraq after drone strike
A fire broke out early on Saturday at storage facilities belonging to foreign oil companies west of Iraq’s Basra after a drone strike, security sources told Reuters.
04/04/2026 – 07:04Recap: Two US fighter jets downed in Mideast, one crew member rescued
04/04/2026 – 06:55Iran, US race to find crew member of crashed American fighter jet
Iranian and American forces raced each other Saturday to recover a crew member of the first US fighter jet to go down inside Iran since the start of the war.
Tehran said it had shot down the F-15 warplane, while US media reported United States special forces had rescued one of its two crew members, with the other still missing.
Iran’s military also said it downed a US A-10 ground attack aircraft in the Gulf, with US media saying the pilot was rescued.
President Donald Trump told NBC the F-15 loss would not affect negotiations with Iran, saying: “No, not at all. No, it’s war.
04/04/2026 – 06:54Several blasts heard coming from Tehran’s north
Several blasts shook northern Tehran on Saturday, an AFP journalist heard, as the Middle East war neared its sixth week.
The blasts occurred at about 7:30 am (0400 GMT) and were accompanied by a loud sound from above as if coming from a drone, said AFP’s correspondent in the Iranian capital.
04/04/2026 – 06:53Welcome to our liveblog
Yesterday’s key developments:
The Israeli military said it had begun striking “Hezbollah infrastructure sites” in Lebanon’s capital Beirut.
Trump briefed on downed plane as both US and Iran race to find pilot.
Trump asked lawmakers to approve a massive $1.5 trillion defence budget for 2027, as the United States faces rising costs from its war with Iran and mounting global security commitments.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP and Reuters)