West Asia War LIVE Updates: Israel strikes central Beirut hours after Iran ceasefire

West Asia War LIVE Updates: Israel strikes central Beirut without warning after saying Iran ceasefire doesn`t apply there

Israeli strikes hit several dense commercial and residential areas in central Beirut without warning Wednesday afternoon, hours after a ceasefire was announced in the US-Israeli war with Iran. Lebanon`s health ministry said dozens were killed and hundreds wounded in an early estimate.

West Asia War LIVE Updates: Trump backs Israeli operation in Lebanon, says Hezbollah "not included" in ceasefire deal

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday backed Israel`s ongoing military operation in Lebanon, stating that Hezbollah "was not included" in the recent ceasefire deal between Washington and Tehran, which halted the conflict in West Asia for two weeks. Speaking to PBS News, when asked about Lebanon still being targeted despite the ceasefire announcement, Trump said, "Yeah, they were not included in the deal." When pressed on why Israeli military action in Lebanon was excluded from the deal, Trump replied, "Because of Hezbollah. They were not included in the deal. That`ll get taken care of too. It`s alright."

West Asia War LIVE Updates: Trump considering "joint venture" with Iran to secure Strait of Hormuz after ceasefire deal; Report

US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Washington is considering a "joint venture" with Iran to secure the Strait of Hormuz, following his announcement of a two-week ceasefire. Speaking during an interview with ABC News, when asked whether Tehran would be allowed to charge tolls for shipping through the strait, the US President said the joint venture would help to secure the strategic waterway, a critical transit for global energy trade. "We`re thinking of doing it as a joint venture. It`s a way of securing it - also securing it from lots of other people," Trump said. "It`s a beautiful thing," he added.

West Asia War LIVE Updates: Pakistan is being recognised as `credible and trusted` mediator: Khawaja Asif

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Wednesday said that Pakistan is now being recognised as a "credible and trusted" mediator both in the region and globally, hours after the US and Iran agreed on a conditional two-week ceasefire facilitated by Islamabad. "It (ceasefire) is the success of our entire leadership. We are thankful to God for this," Asif said while talking to the media in the context of the ceasefire arranged by Pakistan between Iran and the US. Asif said that Pakistan has entered into a new era after arranging peace between the US and Iran. "We will have stability and peace".