This live blog follows updates for Day 25 of the US-Israeli war on Iran. For a recap of Day 24, go here.

• Israel strikes south Beirut, says captured Hezbollah members
• Netanyahu says spoke with Trump, vows to protect Israel's interests
• Iran foreign ministry says got messages from 'friendly countries' about US request for talks 
• Iranian media says no negotiations with US after Trump announcement
• Israel army says launched 'wide-scale wave of strikes' in Tehran

Israel strikes hit 7 areas of south Beirut overnight: Lebanon state media

Published March 24, 2026 | 04:12 GMT

Israel targeted seven areas of Beirut's southern suburbs overnight, Lebanese state media reported on Tuesday.

"Enemy warplanes launched seven raids overnight on the southern suburbs," Lebanon's state-run National News Agency reported, adding that seven areas were targeted.

Japan to release national oil reserves from Thursday: PM

Published March 24, 2026 | 03:33 GMT

Japan will release another part of its strategic oil reserves from Thursday, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Tuesday, after Tokyo began to tap stockpiles last week.

"In order to secure 'the necessary amount for the whole of Japan' ...we will release the state (oil) reserve from 26th March this week," she said in a post on X.

Last Monday, Tokyo started the release of 15 days' worth of private-sector petroleum reserves.

Takaichi previously announced that a month's worth of government stockpiles would also be released.

Japan depends on the Middle East for around 95 percent of its oil imports.

Its strategic oil reserves are among the world's largest and stood at more than 400 million barrels as of December.

Iran state media says 'new wave of missiles' launched at Israel

Published March 24, 2026 | 02:54 GMT

Iran launched another round of missiles towards Israel early Tuesday, state television announced.

"Iran fires new wave of missiles at occupied territories," the state-run Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting posted on Telegram.

Iraq armed group says commander, fighters killed in strike

Published March 24, 2026 | 01:17 GMT

A strike in western Iraq on Tuesday killed a commander and several fighters from the former paramilitary coalition Hashed al-Shaabi, the group said.

The bombing targeted a base in Anbar province during a commanders' meeting, a source from the group told AFP on condition of anonymity, blaming the United States for the attack.

Seven Hashed al-Shaabi fighters were "killed and 13 wounded in a US strike", the source added.

EU chief urges immediate end to hostilities in the Middle East

Published March 24, 2026 | 00:50 GMT

European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen called on Tuesday for an immediate end to hostilities in the Middle East, describing a "critical" situation for energy supply chains globally.

"We all feel the knock on effects on gas and oil prices on our businesses and our societies," von der Leyen said alongside Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Canberra.

"It is of utmost importance that we come to a solution that is negotiated, and this puts an end to the hostilities that we see in the Middle East," she added.

Blast over Jerusalem, Israel building hit after Iran missile fire

Published March 24, 2026 | 00:40 GMT

A loud blast rang out over Jerusalem early Tuesday as the Israeli military sent search and rescue teams to a damaged building following two rounds of Iranian missile fire.

Israel's military announced the Iranian launches hours after US President Donald Trump said Washington had held talks with an unnamed Iranian official — a report denied by Tehran.

Minutes after the second missile alert, AFP reporters in Jerusalem heard a loud explosion, but the military said people were now cleared to leave their shelters and medics reported no casualties.

Following the first launch, the military said it had sent "search and rescue forces to operate at a scene in northern Israel where reports of an impact have been received."

The Magen David Adom emergency services released video of a damaged building, with a smashed area on an upper floor and rubble spread across the ground.

The medics said they were providing treatment to a man in his 30s who suffered mild injuries after stepping on shrapnel, but there were no other casualty reports.

Trump announces 'very good' Iran talks denied by Tehran

Published March 24, 2026 | 00:00 GMT

President Donald Trump hailed "very good" talks with an unidentified Iranian official after abruptly shelving plans for fresh attacks, even as Washington's ally Israel vowed to keep up strikes on the Islamic republic.

The surprise disclosure -- denied by Tehran, which accused Trump of manipulating energy markets -- came ahead of a Monday night deadline imposed by Trump for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz shipping lane or see the US "obliterate" its power plants.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had spoken to Trump and acknowledged the United States thought a deal was possible, but vowed to continue striking Iran and Lebanon to protect Israel.