Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike on a building in Beirut, Lebanon on Wednesday (April 8). Photo: AP/PTI
Within hours after ceasefire, Iran says oil refinery attacked
Firefighters contain blaze at Iran’s Lavan Island refinery after attack hours into a new ceasefire; no injuries reported, attacker not identified
Here is the top, trending news of Wednesday, April 8, 2026, including the Iran war, Indian politics, states’ politics, geopolitics, federal issues, economics, development issues, sports, entertainment, and so on.
Scroll below for Live updates.
Live Updates
- 8 April 2026 6:31 PM IST
Israel strikes Beirut after ceasefire, Hezbollah rejects truce
Israeli airstrikes struck crowded commercial and residential districts in Beirut on Wednesday, just hours after a ceasefire was declared in the US-Israeli conflict with Iran. Israel maintained that the truce does not apply to its ongoing war with Hezbollah, despite contrary claims from mediator Pakistan.
The Israeli military described the हमला as its largest coordinated assault in the current conflict, hitting over 100 targets within minutes across Beirut, southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley. Thick smoke rose across the capital as explosions shattered the afternoon calm, with ambulances rushing to damaged sites. Casualty figures were not immediately confirmed, though strikes in busy areas triggered panic.
Israel said it targeted missile systems and command hubs, accusing Hezbollah of operating among civilians. “The State of Lebanon and its civilians must refuse Hezbollah's entrenchment in civilian areas and its weapons build-up capabilities,” it said.
A Hezbollah official signalled cautious openness to mediation but stressed, “we have not announced our adherence to the ceasefire since the Israelis are not adhering to it.” He added, “We will not accept for the Israelis to continue behaving as they did before this war with regards to attacks… We do not want this phase to continue.”
- 8 April 2026 6:06 PM IST
Trump warns 50 per cent tariff on nations arming Iran amid ceasefire
Following the announcement of a two-week, reciprocal ceasefire with Iran, US President Donald Trump warned that nations supplying arms to Tehran would face steep economic penalties.
In a Truth Social post, he declared the policy would be “effective immediately” with no exceptions. "A Country supplying Military Weapons to Iran will be immediately tariffed, on any and all goods sold to the United States of America, 50%, effective immediately. There will be no exclusions or exemptions!"
Trump also said Iran had agreed to halt uranium enrichment and indicated progress on sanctions and tariff relief. He described recent developments as a “very productive Regime Change” and noted advancing negotiations. "The United States will work closely with Iran… Many of the 15 points have already been been agreed to," he said.
Reaffirming the ceasefire, Trump added: "Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir… This will be a double-sided CEASEFIRE!" He emphasised that the pause could help finalise a long-term peace agreement.
- 8 April 2026 5:28 PM IST
Vance calls Iran ceasefire fragile, warns Trump “not one to mess around”
US Vice President JD Vance on Wednesday described the current ceasefire with Iran as “fragile”, urging Tehran to act in “good faith” to achieve a lasting agreement. Speaking from Hungary, Vance paired diplomatic outreach with a warning, noting that Donald Trump was “not one to mess around”.
He said a broader resolution in the Middle East was possible if Iran engaged constructively. “If the Iranians are willing in good faith to work with us, I think we can make an agreement,” he stated as quoted by ANI.
Vance cautioned that failure to cooperate would test Washington’s patience: “they're going to find out that the President of the United States is not one to mess around. He's impatient. He's impatient to make progress.” He added, “The President of the United States has told me… go and work in good faith to come to an agreement… That is what he has told us to do.”
- 8 April 2026 4:05 PM IST
Iran refinery hit hours after ceasefire announcement
An oil refinery on Iran’s Lavan Island was hit on Wednesday, hours after a ceasefire in the war was announced, Iranian state television reported. Firefighters were working to contain the blaze, and no injuries were reported. The broadcaster did not identify who carried out the attack.
The strike comes amid a fragile two-week ceasefire involving the United States, Iran and Israel, agreed after weeks of escalating exchanges that rattled regional security and energy markets. The truce was intended to pause hostilities and ease pressure on key oil routes, but the latest incident raises fresh doubts about how long it can hold.
- 8 April 2026 3:40 PM IST
Kuwait, UAE repel Iranian drones and missile attacks
Kuwait said its air defence systems were responding to a wave of Iranian drones launched from 8 am local time, according to Reuters, citing the army. Military officials said several drones targeted critical infrastructure, including oil facilities, power stations and water desalination plants, resulting in significant damage.
Separately, the United Arab Emirates said on Wednesday that its air defences were engaging an incoming Iranian missile barrage. Authorities did not specify the locations under attack. The developments come just hours after a two-week truce had been confirmed by the United States, Iran and Israel, raising fresh concerns about the stability of the agreement.
- 8 April 2026 2:29 PM IST
India welcomes US-Iran ceasefire, urges lasting peace
India’s Ministry of External Affairs on Wednesday welcomed the US-Iran ceasefire, expressing hope it could ease tensions in West Asia. It stressed that diplomacy remains the only viable path, noting the conflict’s toll on civilians and disruption to global energy and trade flows.
The MEA said, "We welcome the ceasefire reached and hope that it will lead to a lasting peace in West Asia. As we have continuously advocated earlier, de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy are essential to bring an early end to the ongoing conflict. The conflict has already caused immense suffering to people and disrupted global energy supply and trade networks. We expect that unimpeded freedom of navigation and global flow of commerce would prevail through the Strait of Hormuz."
Donald Trump announced a two-week pause in US attacks, calling it a “double-sided CEASEFIRE” linked to Iran allowing safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran accepted conditionally, with Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi saying operations would stop if attacks ceased.
"Considering the request by the U.S. for negotiations based on its 15-point proposal as well as announcement by POTUS about acceptance of the general framework of Iran's 10-point proposal as a basis for negotiations, I hereby declare on behalf of Iran's Supreme National Security Council: If attacks against Iran are halted, our Powerful Armed Forces will cease their defensive operations. For a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordination with Iran's Armed Forces and with due consideration of technical limitations," Araghchi wrote.
- 8 April 2026 2:01 PM IST
Celebrations across Kashmir after US-Iran ceasefire announcement
Celebrations erupted in various places across Kashmir after the US-Iran ceasefire announcement, with people calling it a "victory" for the Islamic Republic.
Hundreds of people, especially in the Shia-dominated areas of the valley, gathered on roads to celebrate the ceasefire.
The celebrations erupted in Saidakadal and Zadibal areas of the city here, as well as in Budgam, Baramulla, Ganderbal, Pulwama and Bandipora districts of the valley.
Waving Iranian flags, the people expressed joy over the ceasefire announcement and burst crackers to celebrate. They also distributed Kashmiri kehwa as part of the celebrations.
The people called the ceasefire a "victory" of Iran over the US and Israel.
"This ceasefire is a victory for Iran. They brought the US and Israel to their knees. Today, we are celebrating this victory," a member of the Shia community in Budgam said.
Earlier, large-scale fundraisers were held in Kashmir in solidarity with Iran. People of the valley donated money and other valuables to help the people of Iran.
Kashmir and Iran share deep-rooted cultural, linguistic, and religious ties, with Kashmir often called 'Iran-e-Sagheer' (little Iran). - 8 April 2026 2:01 PM IST
African Union head says ceasefire is critical opportunity
Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, chairperson of the African Union Commission, said the ceaseire between the United States, Israel and Iran presents a critical opportunity to ease the suffering of populations affected directly and indirectly by the war.
Youssouf said the agreement reflects commendable leadership and a shared commitment to the de-escalation that the union has consistently called for.
He added that diplomacy guided by the United Nations Charter remains the only viable path to resolving international crises. - 8 April 2026 2:01 PM IST
Norwegian Refugee Council head says ceasefire will benefit aid to Iran
Jan Engeland, secretary general of the Norwegian Refugee Council, an international aid group, said the two-week ceasefire will allow scaling up of assistance for millions of refugees and displaced people in Iran.
He called for more funding to humanitarian operations.
“But we have only some funding from Scandinavians,” he wrote on X. “How come there are easily billions for war, but no funding for the victims of the war?” - 8 April 2026 2:00 PM IST
West Asia and Europe diplomats look to work coming after ceasefire
Diplomats in the Middle East and Europe are offering assessments of the two-week ceasefire and the work that remains ahead.
Anwar Gargash, an adviser to United Arab Emirates President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, said his country has to manage a “complex regional landscape”.
Gargash argued on social media that the UAE will have “greater leverage, sharper insight, and a more solid capacity to influence and shape the future”.
The European Union's top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, described the ceasefire in the war in the Middle East as a “step back from the brink”.
The agreement has created “a much-needed chance to tone down threats, stop missiles, restart shipping”.
Kallas wrote on X. “The Strait of Hormuz must be open for passage again.”
