Live updates: US-Iran war; Trump says he’s canceling planned attacks

Key Points:

• Armed groups loyal to Tehran, weakened after Israel’s 2023 military response to Hamas, are regaining strength across the Middle East, increasing Iran’s leverage against the US and Israel by opening new fronts in the conflict.
• US President Donald Trump canceled planned strikes on Iran, citing progress in talks and pressure from Gulf allies like Saudi Arabia, who fear further escalation would worsen regional suffering without changing the conflict’s trajectory.
• The US military faces challenges in defending forces due to depleted missile interceptors (Patriot and THAAD) and extended deployments straining readiness, raising doubts about its ability to deliver a decisive blow in the ongoing war.
• Israeli strikes in Gaza recently destroyed medical warehouses at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, including vital dialysis supplies, exacerbating humanitarian shortages amid the conflict despite claims the site was used by Hamas for weapons storage.
• Diplomatic efforts involving mediators such as Qatar and Pakistan aim to de-escalate tensions and reopen the Strait of Hormuz to commercial traffic, with Trump emphasizing a conditional pause on attacks pending a potential deal addressing Iran’s nuclear threat.