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People move past a billboard with an image which depicts Irans late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei embracing late senior Iranian military commander General Qassem Soleimani, in Tehran, Iran, (REUTERS FILE)Pakistan and Kuwait on Saturday urged the US and Iran to uphold the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed last month and avoid any steps that could further escalate tensions amid renewed fighting over the Strait of Hormuz. The appeal came during a telephone conversation between Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and his Kuwaiti counterpart Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, according to Pakistan’s Foreign Office.
The call came as Iran has suspended its commitments under the Islamabad MoU as US attacks continue, Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said. “The US has violated and suspended all its commitments within the framework of the Islamabad MoU,” Gharibabadi said. He added that Tehran had also suspended its obligations under the agreement and was now “busy defending the country”.
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Kuwait intercepts Iranian missiles, drones after attack on desalination plant
The latest escalation spilled beyond Iran and Israel, with Kuwait intercepting Iranian missiles and drones after a desalination plant was hit for the second time in two days, triggering a fire. Iraq said it shot down attack drones over Irbil, Jordan intercepted Iranian missiles, and Bahrain activated air raid sirens as regional air defences responded to incoming threats. Meanwhile, Iranian officials warned that countries hosting US forces should prepare for retaliation, signalling the conflict could widen further.
Battle for control over Strait of Hormuz continues
The fighting comes as both sides continue to battle for control over the Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant share of the world’s oil trade passes. Iran has effectively shut the waterway to commercial shipping, disrupting global energy markets and pushing oil prices higher. The conflict has also intensified diplomatic pressure on US President Donald Trump, who has insisted the military campaign is succeeding even as fears grow of a prolonged regional war.
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Latest updates on Iran-US war:
- US launches seventh straight night of strikes: CENTCOM said it targeted Iranian surveillance sites, military logistics infrastructure, underground weapons storage facilities and maritime capabilities as the campaign intensified.
- Iran and US exchange fresh attacks: Iran continued missile and drone strikes while warning countries hosting US forces to prepare for retaliation, raising fears of a wider regional conflict.
- Kuwait intercepts Iranian missiles: Kuwait said it shot down missiles and drones after a desalination plant was hit for the second time in two days, while Jordan, Iraq and Bahrain also activated air defences.
- Strait of Hormuz remains flashpoint: Iran has effectively closed the strategic waterway to commercial shipping, disrupting global energy supplies and keeping oil prices above $86 a barrel.
- Casualties mount on both sides: Iran said recent US strikes have killed at least 46 people and wounded over 400, while the US acknowledged 13 more service members were injured, taking total American casualties since the war began to 14 dead and 427 wounded.
Follow The Indian Express Global Desk live coverage for the latest updates on the conflict from West Asia and the US.
Live Updates
Strike reported near Sirik in southern Iran
A location near Sirik, in Iran’s southern Hormozgan province, was struck, according to the Mehr news agency.
No casualties or damage to residential or commercial infrastructure were reported.
Iran lawmaker warns US troops to ‘flee’
Ebrahim Azizi, the chairman of Iran’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, issued a direct warning to American forces via social media, citing the supreme leader’s earlier threats of retaliatory strikes.
“If US troops truly understood what our wise Supreme Leader meant by ‘unforgettable lessons,’ they wouldn’t waste a single second fleeing,” Azizi wrote.
If US troops truly understood what our wise Supreme Leader meant by ‘unforgettable lessons,’ they wouldn’t waste a single second fleeing.
— ابراهیم عزیزی (@Ebrahimazizi33) July 18, 2026
US military launches new airstrikes against Iran for deaths of US troops
The U.S. military said on Saturday that it had launched new airstrikes against Iran to “swiftly punish” the country’s Revolutionary Guard for an attack in Jordan that killed two American service members, left one more missing and four requiring hospitalization.
U.S. Central Command said the strikes were designed to further degrade Iran’s ability to restrict the traffic of oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz. The waterway accounted for roughly 20% of global oil supplies before the war.
The U.S. military on Saturday announced its first troop deaths due to direct Iranian fire since the opening days of the war, with two killed and another missing in an attack on a base in Jordan after days of intensifying exchanges of fire.
Friday’s drone and missile attack sent four other service members to hospitals, the military said. The dead were not identified. Since the war began, 16 U.S. service members have been killed and over 430 wounded.
Minutes before the announcement, Iran’s supreme leader warned of “unforgettable lessons” if the U.S. keeps attacking the Islamic Republic.
The remarks read out on state TV and attributed to Mojtaba Khamenei, still unseen since the war began, also called President Donald Trump’s signature “worthless and invalid.” An Iranian negotiator said Tehran was suspending its commitments to the interim deal signed about a month ago and aimed at permanently ending the fighting.
AP
Iran's Supreme Leader says US breaches show Trump's signature is 'worthless'
Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said in a written statement on Saturday that repeated U.S. breaches of a memorandum of understanding signed by the presidents of Iran and the United States had shown that President Donald Trump's signature was "utterly worthless and devoid of credibility."
Washington and Tehran have exchanged strikes after a ceasefire agreement fell apart last week, raising fears of a return to all-out war.
Reuters
Two military personnel killed in Jordan: US
The U.S. military said on Saturday two of its personnel were killed in Jordan and another was missing after an Iranian attack, while Iran's supreme leader said Washington would pay for "seeking to incite war" after a seventh straight night of U.S. strikes.
The U.S. and Iran have intensified attacks since an interim ceasefire deal signed a month ago fell apart last week, raising the possibility of a return to all-out war.
U.S. Central Command said the two deaths occurred on Friday and that a third U.S. service member was missing in action. The announcement brought the number of U.S. service members killed since the war began to 16, while more than 420 have been wounded.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth posted on X: "Godspeed, heroes. Their sacrifice only stiffens our resolve."
Iran, responding to U.S. attacks on bridges, power facilities and other infrastructure, appeared to target Saudi Arabia as well as other U.S. Gulf allies and Jordan on Saturday.
In a written statement carried by the official social media accounts of Iran's supreme leader and Iranian state media, Mojtaba Khamenei said repeated U.S. breaches of the interim deal had shown that President Donald Trump's signature was "utterly worthless and devoid of credibility."
Reuters
Pakistan, Kuwait urge US and Iran to honour peace agreement amid fresh strikes
Pakistan and Kuwait on Saturday urged the US and Iran to uphold the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed last month and avoid any steps that could further escalate tensions amid renewed fighting over the Strait of Hormuz.
The appeal came during a telephone conversation between Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and his Kuwaiti counterpart Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, according to Pakistan's Foreign Office.
The call came as the US and Iran exchanged fresh strikes on Saturday, with attacks targeting military and infrastructure sites as fighting over the Strait of Hormuz intensified.
(PTI)
Iran executes man accused of killing security agent during 2022 protests
Iran has executed a man convicted of shooting to death a member of the security forces during nationwide unrest sparked by the 2022 death of a young woman in police custody, the judiciary's Mizan news agency reported on Saturday.
Rights groups say authorities often rely on forced confessions obtained under torture to convict protesters. Iran denies the accusation.
(Reuters)
Iran’s deputy FM says MoU suspended after ‘US violations’
Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said Iran has suspended its commitments to the MoU as US attacks continue, Iran’s Fars news outlet reported.
“The US has violated and suspended all its commitments within the framework of the Islamabad MoU,” Gharibabadi said.
He added that Tehran has suspended its commitments and implementation of the agreement and is “busy defending the country”.
(Al Jazeera)
US attacks killed at least 50 people in Iran since July 6: Health ministry
Iran’s Health Ministry said US attacks on the country since July 6 have killed at least 50 people and wounded more than 500, reported Al Jazeera.
Kuwait Petroleum Corporation reports damage, injuries from Iranian attacks
Kuwait Petroleum Corporation said one of its oil facilities was hit on Saturday by "repeated Iranian attacks", resulting in significant material damage and some injuries, according to Kuwait's state news agency.
(Reuters)
Jordan claims it shot down four drones over its airspace
Jordan said it has intercepted and shot down four drones in its airspace over the past 24 hours, Al Jazeera reported.
The statement by the Jordanian Armed Forces said no casualties or material damage were reported.
Many firefighters injured after Iranian attacks: Kuwait Fire Dept
Kuwait’s Fire Force Saturday claimed that a number of its firefighters and a worker were injured as they responded to the fire at two places after the Iranian attacks this morning, Al Jazeera reported.
“The first incident resulted, during the firefighting operation, in a number of injuries among the firefighters and one of the workers, where the site was evacuated and they were transported to provide them with the necessary medical assistance,” it said in a statement.
Iran calls on Jordanian army to target US forces
Iran on Saturday called on the Jordanian army to target the US forces, claiming that “the invading, infidel military forces are considered legitimate targets,” according to Al Jazeera.
“It is your religious and humanitarian duty to eliminate them by any means necessary and to cleanse the sacred land of Jordan of these killers of innocent Muslims,” its statement added. (Al Jazeera)
US attacks on Hormozgan province kills 7, says official
The US attacks on Hormozgan province in southern Iran have killed “about seven to eight people”, all civilians, Ahmad Moradi, a representative for the province, told Iran’s Tasnim news agency.
According to the report, the attacks took place over the past two nights, with one US attack targeting one of the bridges in the province, which hit two family cars, killing six people. (Tasnim)
Iran's IRGC claims attacks on US military’s Azraq airbase in Jordan
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) Saturday announced that it launched “a devastating and simultaneous missile and drone attack on fighter jet shelters and a large aircraft parking ramp at a US base in Al-Azraq, Jordan”.
The IRGC claimed that the attack “completely [destroyed] at least two American fighter jets and [caused] significant damage to several others”.
According to the IRGC, "Aerospace Force fighters, in the twentieth wave of Operation "Nasr 2," targeted fighter jet shelters and a large parking ramp with simultaneous missile and drone strikes on the American base in Al-Azraq, Jordan."
Iran’s Bushehr area hit in US attacks: Official
Ehsan Jahanian, the deputy political and social affairs governor of Bushehr, told Iran’s Islamic Republic News Agency that the US forces hit an area in Dashti county, Al Jazeera reported.
“The explosion caused by this attack did not cause any casualties,” he told the news agency, while pointing out another attack in Choghadak city. (Al Jazeera)
Water supply disrupted in 20 Iranian villages after US attacks
Water supply was disrupted in 20 villages in Iran's Jask area following US attacks, Fars news agency reported.
The Hormozgan Water and Wastewater Company, in a statement, said, "Following last night's attack by the US Army on Bunji desalination plant, the drinking water supply to 20 villages in Jask, with a population of approximately 10,000 people, has been completely disrupted." (X/Fars)
Traffic on Bandar Abbas-Rudan road resumes after US attacks: Report
Traffic on the road from Bandar Abbas to Rudan, which was attacked by the US in the early hours of Saturday morning, resumed at around 13:30 IST, Fars news agency reported.
https://platform.x.com/widgets.js🎥 تردد در جادهٔ بندرعباس به رودان که بامداد امروز مورد حملهٔ ارتش تروریستی آمریکا قرار گرفت، از سر گرفته شده است. pic.twitter.com/5oKY1hfpSJ
— خبرگزاری فارس (@FarsNews_Agency) July 18, 2026
Tehran targets vessels in Strait of Hormuz after a week of US strikes on Iran
Iran on Saturday announced the launch of fresh operations targeting maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz following a seventh consecutive night of US airstrikes on the Islamic Republic, The Independent reported.
Tehran has claimed its forces stopped four vessels in the Strait, while Iranian state media reported that two oil tankers caught fire and exploded after passing through a mined route. The US military, however, rejected it as “false,” according to the report.
Iran cancels final exams in four southern provinces as tensions with US soar
The Iranian Education Ministry Saturday announced the cancellation of final exams for 11th and 12th-grade students scheduled for Sunday and Monday across four southern provinces, Al Jazeera reported.
The suspension applies exclusively to Hormozgan, Bushehr, Khuzestan, and Sistan and Baluchestan due to “ongoing unstable conditions in the southern region of the country”, Tasnim news agency reported.
According to the ministry, the affected exams will be rescheduled for a later date. Final exams in other provinces, and subsequent testing dates for the affected areas, will proceed as originally scheduled. (Al Jazeera)
Bahrain sounds air sirens as US, Iran exchange strikes
Bahrain activated air sirens for a second time on Saturday, warning residents to shelter after it detected possible incoming drones or missiles, news agency Reuters reported.
Iran's IRGC claims it targeted Bahrain's Sheikh Isa Air Base, Kuwait's Al Ahmadi Port
Iran's Revolutionary Guards Saturday said they targeted a site where US combat aircraft were gathered at Sheikh Isa Air Base and an intelligence data centre in Bahrain, known as Batelco, state media reported.
The guards also targeted a US naval fuel-support pier at Al Ahmadi Port and a US signals and communications centre in Kuwait, state media reported. (Reuters)
Iran attack: Kuwait Airways reschedules flights after airport suspension
Kuwait Airways on Saturday said that it has rescheduled most flights after the country temporarily suspended operations at Kuwait International Airport following Iranian missile and drone attacks, news agency Reuters reported.
The airline earlier said the rescheduling was due to the closure of Kuwaiti airspace. (Reuters)
Shiraz-Dubai flights resume after 5-month halt: Report
Flights between Shiraz and Dubai resumed after a five-month halt on Saturday, Iran's Fars news agency reported citing an official.
Bahrain says it intercepted several Iranian aerial attacks on Saturday
Bahrain's Defence Forces said the country intercepted a number of aerial attacks launched by Iran on Saturday, though further details on the scale or targets of the attempted strikes were not immediately provided.
Fire breaks out at Kuwait’s power and water desalination plant
Kuwait’s Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy has said that a fire broke out in one of the components of the power and water desalination after the latest round of Iranian attacks.
“This necessitated precautionary operational measures, consisting of disconnecting a number of generating units to preserve the safety of the plant and its workers, and to ensure the stability of the electrical grid,” the ministry said in a statement.
“The Ministry confirms that all operational and emergency plans were activated immediately upon the occurrence of the incident, ensuring the continuity and stability of both the electricity and water networks and limiting any potential impact on service, with technical and operational monitoring continuing around the clock,” the ministry added in the statement.
3 killed as US bombs Iran’s underground weapons storage in 7th night of strikes; Tehran hits back
Three people are dead and eight wounded after strikes hit Hormozgan province, Iranian media reported, citing a local official who said the region’s governorate has told residents to avoid unnecessary travel given the threat of more attacks.
The casualties come amid a broader flare-up Friday, as the US and Iran struck targets across the region bridges, energy sites, and a port tower in Iran on one side, missiles fired into Qatar and Kuwait on the other with US Central Command confirming a seventh consecutive night of strikes and no signs the conflict is winding down. Read more
Israeli warplanes target southern Lebanon in dawn air strikes
Israeli war jets have conducted air strikes in two dawn waves, targeting the Masha’ al-Mansouri area in southern Lebanon, Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) reports.
Kuwait Airways reschedules most flights after airport suspension following Iranian attack
Kuwait Airways said on Saturday it has rescheduled most flights after the country temporarily suspended operations at Kuwait International Airport following Iranian missile and drone attacks.
The airline had earlier said the rescheduling was due to the closure of Kuwaiti airspace.
Iran’s IRGC warns countries hosting US forces to prepare for ‘corresponding response’
Iran’s IRGC is warning countries hosting US military forces to prepare for a “corresponding response” according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency
The IRGC demanded that such nations “activate their civil defence units to protect their citizens and move them away from potential military targets,” stating that their territories are being used as launchpads for aggression against Iran.
According to the Tasnim report, the IRGC Ground Forces used drones and missiles to target a US military logistics hub at Camp Arifjan in Kuwait, claiming to have caused casualties among the personnel stationed there.
How the Iran war is hitting Indian and migrant workers
For thousands of migrant workers, Dubai isn’t delivering on its promise anymore. It’s been months since the US-Israel war with Iran spilled into the Gulf, and people are still feeling it jobs gone, paychecks smaller, and almost nothing new to apply for.
The conflict, which saw Iranian missiles and drones hit the UAE, slowed tourism, aviation, and businesses that depend on foreign visitors. UAE officials call the slowdown temporary, but many workers describe a different reality, according to The New York Times. Read more
Kuwait says responding to Iranian missile and drone attacks for third time
The Kuwaiti army says it is again responding to Iranian missile and drone attacks, urging the public to “adhere to the authorities’ safety and security instructions”.
Any explosions heard are the sounds of air defences engaging hostile attacks, the army added in a statement shared on X.
US warns Americans to reconsider Middle East travel amid rising tensions
The US State Department is urging heightened vigilance across the Middle East as regional hostilities intensify.
In a statement posted on X, the department warned that “due to high tensions in the Middle East, the security environment remains complex with the potential for unforeseen escalation”, prompting a strong recommendation for citizens to evaluate their plans, noting that “Americans should reconsider travel through the Middle East”.
Middle East: Due to high tensions in the Middle East, the security environment remains complex with the potential for unforeseen escalation. We remind Americans in the region of the continued need for caution and encourage them to monitor the news for breaking developments.… pic.twitter.com/QKgyNLJSo9
— TravelGov (@TravelGov) July 18, 2026
Warning sirens activated for fourth time in Bahrain
Warning sirens have been activated in Bahrain for the fourth time in a matter of hours. The Ministry of Interior told people to “remain calm and head to the nearest safe place”.
US and Iran escalate strikes across Mideast
The United States and Iran exchanged strikes aimed at infrastructure and military targets on Saturday as their battle over the Strait of Hormuz intensified.
Iranian official says the policy of negotiating during war is over| Video
Mohsen Rezaee, a senior Iranian military adviser, has warned that if the US continues bombing Iran, Tehran will escalate the conflict into a full-scale war.
Rezaee says that so far, Iran has limited its retaliations, but this won’t last for long.
Senior Iranian official Mohsen Rezaee:
— Clash Report (@clashreport) July 17, 2026
If U.S. attacks continue over the next two to three days, the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran will move beyond the stage of deterrence and retaliation and enter the phase of “offense and complete destruction,” such that U.S.… pic.twitter.com/T8E9IVCfQw
US military says it completed latest strikes on Iran, marking 7th consecutive night of attacks
The US military said late on Thursday it completed its latest wave of strikes on Iran that were carried out at President Donald Trump's direction and marked a seventh consecutive night of American attacks.
Jordanian air defences intercept 10 Iranian missiles, says military
The Jordanian military has said its air defences intercepted and downed 10 Iranian missiles that breached the country’s airspace early on Saturday morning.
The military said that the operation was carried out in accordance with standard defensive measures to safeguard the kingdom’s sovereignty and ensure public safety.
No casualties or material damage were reported from the interceptions, and Royal Engineers have already begun clearing and securing debris from the impact sites, it added.
Iranian media report explosions in Khorramabad
Iranian media has reported explosions in the city of Khorramabad in Lorestan province.
The reports said the blasts were a result of US missile strikes launched from Kuwait.
Photos: Pro-government demonstrators gather at a square in Tehran
US military completes seventh consecutive night of strikes against Iran
US Central Command (CENTCOM) says the US military has completed its seventh consecutive night of strikes against Iran.
The command said that “US forces employed fighter aircraft, aerial drones, and warships, in addition to other assets, to hit surveillance sites, military logistics infrastructure, underground weapons storage, and maritime capabilities.”
The statement noted that the strikes concluded on July 17 at 9.30 pm ET.
“CENTCOM continues to hold Iran accountable at the Commander in Chief’s direction while fully enforcing a naval blockade against Iranian ports,” the statement continued.
“More than 50,000 American service members are operating across the Middle East and remain vigilant, lethal, and ready,” it added.
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) July 18, 2026
Sirens sound again in Bahrain
Bahrain's Interior Ministry said sirens were activated across the country for the second time. -Reuters
US strikes hit site near Jask
Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that the US targeted a location near the port town of Jask.
More details to follow.
Why is the US sending dozens more refueling planes to Israel
The Trump administration has told Israel it's sending dozens more refueling planes into the country as the president weighs a broader military escalation against Iran, as reported by Axios.
Trump was briefed on several new military options during a Situation Room meeting Tuesday and is now considering an offensive against Iran far larger in scope than the ongoing strikes around the Strait of Hormuz. He hasn't made a final call, but officials say he appears ready to escalate enough to force Tehran to reopen the strait and accept his nuclear demands with a decision possible within days. Read more
US military says IRGC’s claim that oil tankers exploded is ‘false’
The US military’s Central Command has refuted the IRGC’s “claims that two oil tankers have exploded in the Strait of Hormuz after hitting mines in the international waterway”.
“Like most IRGC claims, this is false,” CENTCOM said in a post on X.
🚫 CLAIM: Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claims that two oil tankers have exploded in the Strait of Hormuz after hitting mines in the international waterway.
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) July 18, 2026
✅ FACT: Like most IRGC claims, this is false. pic.twitter.com/hgdwnc7Kos
Kuwait says responding to Iranian drone attacks
The Kuwaiti Defence Ministry says it is responding to Iranian drone attacks, adding that loud sounds heard across the country were due to interceptions.
US and Iran escalate strikes across Mideast; bridges and a water plant hit
The United States and Iran escalated their attacks across the Middle East on Friday, trading strikes aimed at infrastructure and military targets as their battle over the Strait of Hormuz intensified.
The US expanded its attacks against Iran by hitting more bridges and energy sites and collapsing a tower at a key Iranian port, following through on President Donald Trump’s threats to pressure Tehran to ease its chokehold on the waterway vital to world energy supplies.
In response, Iran launched missiles into US-allied nations in the Mideast, including Qatar, a mediator in the war, and Kuwait, where one of the desert nation’s water desalination plants was damaged.
IRGC says it shot down US drone over Bushehr
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy says it has shot down a US drone over the Iranian port city of Bushehr.
The IRGC Navy says the MQ-9 drone was intercepted and destroyed using a new advanced air system operating under the control of Iran’s integrated air defence network.
2 oil tankers caught fire while passing through mined route in Strait of Hormuz, Iran says
Two oil tankers caught fire after attempting to pass through a route in the Strait of Hormuz that had mines, Iran’s state-run news agency reported early on Saturday, citing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
In a statement, the IRGC described the waterway as “now highly unsafe and completely closed.”
Iran’s Mehr says US projectile landed outside Yazd, no casualties
Iran’s Mehr news agency says projectiles fired by the US have landed outside the Iranian central city of Yazd.
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