US-Israel War On Iran LIVE Update: Trump Claims Goals Nearing Completion, Vows To ‘finish job’

Israel’s military said air defences were responding on Thursday (April 2) to a fourth Iranian missile attack within six hours, as sirens sounded 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”.

Source: AFP

Lebanese militant group Hezbollah said its fighters launched drones and rockets at northern Israel on Thursday (April 2), with the Israeli military’s Home Front Command saying air raid sirens were activated across the border.

In separate statements, the Iran-backed group claimed rocket fire targeting Israeli troops in border areas and a drone attack targeting a village.

Sirens were activated in those areas, according to the Israeli Home Front Command, with no reports of any casualties or damage.

Souce: AFP

Members of Congress from the Democratic Party have sharply criticised President Donald Trump’s address to the nation, expressing their views on social media soon after the speech.

Congresswoman Yassamin Ansari said Trump’s threat to bring Iran “back to the stone ages” was a “vile, horrifying, evil” way to speak about a country of 90 million people.

Congressman Jim Himes remarked that oil prices had already risen by $5 a barrel within an hour of the speech ending. “Going to be a wild night on Truth Social. And I’m still not sure what he said,” Himes added.

Senator Chris Van Hollen accused Trump of misleading the American public, saying the President had falsely claimed two weeks ago that “we won.” “This delusional man is a danger to our country and the world,” Van Hollen said.

Congressman Lloyd Doggett said it was difficult to identify the “biggest whopper” in Trump’s speech, but suggested that the claim that the United States had “no inflation” might be the most misleading.

Japan’s Nikkei share average fell on Thursday (April 2), reversing ‌earlier gains, after U.S. President Donald Trump did not provide a clear ⁠sign for the end of the war on Iran. The Nikkei was down 1.6% at ‌52,867 as of 0216 GMT, after rising as much as 0.97% earlier ‌in the session.

The broader Topix also ‌erased ⁠gains, falling 0.98% to 3,635.18.

Source: Reuters

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Thursday (April 2) 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.”

Source: AFP

Shortly after Trump concluded his remarks, in which he claimed that Iran’s military capabilities have been all-but crushed, the Israeli military said it detected Iranian missile launches.

“Defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat,” the Israeli military said.

"Tonight, Iran's navy is gone, their air force is in ruins, their leaders, most of them... are now dead. Their command and control of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is being decimated as we speak, their ability to launch missiles and drones is dramatically curtailed, and their weapons, factories, and rocket launchers are being blown to pieces," the president said, claiming victory for US forces and his presidency.

"Our enemies are losing--and America, as it has been for five years under my presidency, is winning, and now, winning bigger than ever before."

Trump added that Iran's ability to launch missiles and drones is dramatically curtailed.

The US president has portrayed the conflict as a push to secure a better and safer future for the US.

“This is a true investment in your children and your grandchildren’s future,” Trump said. “The whole world is watching, and they can’t leave the power, strength and brilliance. They just can’t believe what they’re seeing.”

He reiterated that the war is necessary to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, although his own intelligence chief acknowledged last year that Tehran is not seeking one.

We will continue until our objectives are fully achieved. Thanks to the progress we’ve made, I can say we are on track to complete all of America’s objectives shortly, very shortly,” the US president says.

“We are going to hit them extremely hard over the next two to three weeks. We are going to take them back to the stone ages where they belong,” he says.

He adds that “regime change was never our goal” but that “regime change has occurred because of their original leader’s death”.

He’s also warns Iran of strikes on power plants if no deal is agreed.

“If during this period of time no deal is made, we have our eyes on key targets. If no deal is reached, we are going to hit every one of their electric generating plants very hard, and probably simultaneously,” he says.