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Issued on: 02/04/2026 – 04:32Modified: 02/04/2026 – 06:53
Smoke billows in Beersheba, southern Israel after it was struck by an Iranian missile Sunday, March 29, 2026. © Maya Levin, AP
Israeli air defences intercepted three waves of Iranian missile fire early Thursday, with several people lightly injured in the Tel Aviv area. The attacks, coming hours after a US presidential address, triggered widespread sirens and raised fears of further escalation in the intensifying regional conflict. Follow our liveblog for the latest updates.
02/04/2026 – 06:53 Israel says will reduce French defence imports ‘to zero’
Earlier this week, Israel said it would reduce its military imports from France “to zero” in retaliation for French policies it deems hostile towards its interests.
According to the French parliament, Paris does not export weapons to Israel, but only components to be used in defence systems or to be re-exported to third countries.
FRANCE 24’s Noga Tarnopolsky reports from Jerusalem.
02/04/2026 – 06:49Israel military says responding to fresh missile fire from Iran
Israel’s military says air defences are responding to a fourth Iranian missile attack within six hours, as sirens sound in parts of northern Israel.
A military statement said Israeli forces had “identified missiles launched from Iran toward the territory of the State of Israel”, adding that “defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat”.
02/04/2026 – 04:36Oil prices jump after Trump signals continued strikes on Iran
Oil prices climbed more than $4 on Thursday after President Donald Trump said the United States would continue to attack Iran, including energy and oil targets over the next few weeks, and did not commit to a specific timeline to end the war.
Brent crude futures rose $4.88, or 4.8%, to $106.04 per barrel by 0200 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate crude futures were up $4.17, or 4.2%, to $104.29 per barrel.
The gains come after both benchmarks had fallen more than $1 earlier on Thursday ahead of Trump’s speech and had settled lower in the previous session.
02/04/2026 – 04:34Australian PM questions endgame of Iran war after objectives ‘realised’
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Thursday the original objectives of the war in Iran had been met and it was not clear what more remained to be achieved.
“Now those objectives have been realised it is not clear what more needs to be achieved or what the end point looks like,” he said.
02/04/2026 – 04:33Israeli air defences intercept multiple Iranian missiles
Israel’s military said air defences responded to three waves of Iranian missile fire early Thursday, with media reporting several light injuries in the Tel Aviv area.
The third reported salvo came shortly after US President Donald Trump delivered an address to the American public about the Middle East war.
After the first attack, police said officers were called to “several” impact sites in central Israel, with media reports putting the number at nine.
Four people were lightly wounded, the reports said, citing medics.
Within just over three hours of the first attack, the military announced it had again “identified missiles launched from Iran toward the territory of the State of Israel”, triggering air raid sirens across much of northern and central Israel.
The military’s Home Front Command later said residents were “permitted to leave protected spaces in all areas of the country”.
The latest developments:
President Donald Trump defended US operations in Iran Wednesday night, pledging to “finish the job” as military objectives near completion.
Trump has said he is strongly considering pulling the United States out of NATO after allies failed to back US military action against Iran.
Iran said that Washington’s demands were “maximalist and irrational” and denied negotiations were taking place on a ceasefire to stop the war in the Middle East.