• Over 25 people killed in recent airstrikes on Iran by the US and Israel.
• A draft for a 45-day ceasefire has been proposed by mediators from multiple countries.
• Iran continues missile strikes against Israel and Gulf Arab states.
• Trump threatens severe military actions if Iran does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
• Casualties in the ongoing conflict continue to rise among civilians.

In a significant escalation of military conflict, airstrikes led by the United States and Israel have resulted in the deaths of more than 25 individuals in Iran. Major areas of Tehran, including the Sharif University of Technology, were targeted as Iranian missile fire retaliated against Israel and its Gulf Arab allies. Among the casualties was Major General Majid Khademi, the head of intelligence for Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, according to Iranian state media. The strikes triggered air defense activations in Kuwait and the UAE to intercept Iranian missiles aimed at the region, which has heightened concerns over energy stability through the crucial Strait of Hormuz, through which a substantial portion of global oil supply passes, according to India Times and South China Morning Post.

Amid these escalating tensions, a ceasefire proposal has surfaced, urging both nations to agree to a 45-day truce. This initiative is backed by mediators from Pakistan, Egypt, and Turkey, aiming to facilitate discussions that may lead to a lasting peace agreement, as reported by Africanews and South China Morning Post. However, both the US and Iran have yet to respond to this proposal, underscoring the ongoing hostilities that have gripped the region.

President Donald Trump has imposed a stringent deadline on Tehran, stating that failure to reopen the Strait will lead to significant military actions targeting Iran's infrastructure. His explicit threats of rendering the country "back to the Stone Ages" have not only intensified the situation but also provoked critical responses from Iranian officials, who argue that the Strait will not revert to its pre-conflict state, particularly concerning US and Israeli vessels. Reports indicate that Trump’s harsh rhetoric followed the death of Iranian military officials, further escalating the ongoing combat operations, according to India Times and Africanews.

The continuous attacks and counterattacks have devastated local populations, with civilian casualties surging across the affected areas, especially in northern Israeli cities like Haifa, where Iranian missiles targeted residential buildings, resulting in further casualties. As this conflict progresses, the need for a diplomatic resolution remains critical, although both sides have so far shown little inclination to cease hostilities, according to South China Morning Post and Africanews.