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US strikes have led to the collapse of Chabahar's maritime control tower. (Photo: X/@PeteHegseth)India on Friday said the Shahid Beheshti terminal at Iran’s Chabahar Port has not sustained any damage despite recent US military strikes on the strategic maritime hub.
The clarification came after the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said American forces destroyed a surveillance tower at Chabahar Shahid Kalantari Port on July 16. India maintained that the Shahid Beheshti terminal, which it has helped develop and operates, remains unaffected.
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Meanwhile, Iran carried out missile strikes in eastern Syria on Friday, marking its first known attack on Syrian territory since the regional conflict escalated earlier this year, according to Iranian state media and a Syrian military source. Iran has also carried out strikes in Jordan, where it targeted US jets and in Kuwait where it hit a power and desalination plant.
Meanwhile, the US military carried out a sixth consecutive night of air strikes against Iran on Thursday, with Iranian state media reporting explosions across the country’s south, including Bandar Abbas, Ahvaz, and Qeshm Island. Tehran warned that continued American pressure would bring devastating retaliation, even as US and Iranian forces kept trading fire over control of the Strait of Hormuz.
Blockade underway: The US struck an empty oil tanker headed for Kharg Island, a critical economic lifeline for Tehran, as part of its renewed naval blockade on Iranian ports. With maritime traffic in the region drying up, oil markets are once again feeling the strain.
Latest developments:
- US forces launched another wave of air strikes overnight, hitting a bridge near Bandar-e Khamir and roughly ten targets on Qeshm Island, plus sites in Bushehr and Ahvaz.
- CENTCOM redirected three commercial vessels, disabled one non-compliant ship, and boarded another in the Gulf of Oman as part of its naval blockade on Iranian ports.
- Iranian media reported two dead and eight wounded after strikes hit a bridge and a residential area, and said a nearby cancer hospital had to evacuate over 200 patients.
- Vice President JD Vance accused Israel of funding efforts to derail US-Iran talks, while Iran said the Strait of Hormuz situation would never return to normal.
- Trump claimed Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has lost up to 90% of its weapons capability, and sources say he’s weighing a wider military campaign.
Follow The Indian Express Global Desk live coverage for the latest updates from West Asia and the US.
Live Updates
Jul 18, 2026 05:30 AM IST
Air raid sirens activated in Bahrain
The Ministry of Interior has told people to “remain calm and head to the nearest safe place”.
Jul 18, 2026 05:01 AM IST
ISNA says US military has attacked area around Sirik in southern Iran
The Iranian Students’ News Agency (ISNA) is reporting that the area around Sirik in southern Iran has been targeted in what it claims was an attack by the US military.
Jul 18, 2026 04:50 AM IST
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards block four US-escorted tankers in Strait of Hormuz
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Navy command have blocked four tankers attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz with US support.
The IRGC navy command says the tankers were “stopped in place” in a combined missile and drone operation.
In a statement, the IRGC naval command warned vessel owners to listen to its warnings and announcements, after the US reimposed a blockade on Iran.
It said “vessel owners should not be fooled by the baseless support of the US terrorist army, like the leaders of some countries in the southern Persian Gulf”.
Jul 18, 2026 04:46 AM IST
3 killed, 8 wounded in 'enemy' strikes on Hormozgan
A local official in Iran's Hormozgan province said Friday that three people were killed and eight others wounded in what he described as "enemy" attacks on several locations across the province.
Hormozgan Deputy Governor for Political, Security and Social Affairs Ismail Dehestani attributed the casualties to the strikes on parts of the province, according to Iranian state media.
Jul 18, 2026 04:43 AM IST
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 Yazid.
Jul 18, 2026 04:42 AM IST
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.
Jul 17, 2026 10:27 PM IST
IRGC claims surprise strike destroyed US military assets at Qatar's Al Udeid air base
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed that its forces carried out a large-scale surprise attack on the US Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, destroying a long-range radar system and several strategic US aerial refuelling aircraft, the IRNA News Agency reported.
Jul 17, 2026 09:57 PM IST
Waiver from sanctions on Chabahar came to an end in April, says MEA
Speaking on the attack on the Chabahar port, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "There was a waiver which was given by America and that waiver got over some time back. Post that, we have been in discussion with relevant stakeholders as to how to take this particular issue forward." The US waiver from its sanctions on Chabahar had come to an end in April.
"On the question of it being attacked, yes, we have seen some reports in that regard, but we can also tell you that the terminal itself did not face any damage," he said.
Jaiswal was responding to a question on the US attacks on the Chabahar port.
It has two terminals — Shahid Beheshti and Shahid Kalantari. India was operating the Shahid Beheshti. (With PTI inputs)
Jul 17, 2026 09:54 PM IST
No damage to terminal in US attacks on Chabahar port: India
The Shahid Beheshti terminal at the Chabahar port in Iran has not faced any damage in US strikes on the key maritime gateway, India said on Friday.
US officials had acknowledged that the US struck the Chabahar port this week as part of its renewed military campaign against Iran.
The Chabahar port is being developed by India and Iran to boost connectivity and trade ties. Both the countries are also strongly pitching for making Chabahar port an integral part of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC).
PTI
Jul 17, 2026 09:34 PM IST
US missiles hit empty oil tanker at Iran's Kharg Island again, says report
An empty oil tanker docked at Iran's Kharg Island was struck by US missiles again, the IRNA reported, citing the deputy governor of Bushehr province. The report said the vessel was not carrying any cargo at the time of the attack. Reuters
Jul 17, 2026 08:36 PM IST
US says strike destroyed IRGC surveillance tower near Strait of Hormuz
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said American forces destroyed a surveillance tower at Chah Bahar Shahid Kalantari Port on July 16, describing it as part of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' (IRGC) maritime monitoring network along Iran's Gulf of Oman coastline.
In a post on X, CENTCOM said the facility had long been used by the IRGC to monitor and target commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The US military added that the strike was intended to reduce the IRGC's ability to coordinate attacks on civilian shipping and help safeguard freedom of navigation in regional waters, while maintaining the ongoing US naval blockade against Iran.
https://platform.x.com/widgets.jsOn July 16, U.S. forces successfully destroyed the Chah Bahar Shahid Kalantari Port surveillance tower, part of a maritime surveillance network along Iran’s Gulf of Oman coastline used for decades by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to track and target commercial… pic.twitter.com/CgBNvgOFf9
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) July 17, 2026
Jul 17, 2026 07:52 PM IST
US Central Command rejects claims of troops killed or captured in Syria attack
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) has dismissed claims circulating online that Iranian forces attacked the al-Tanf Garrison in Syria and killed or captured American troops.
In a post on X, CENTCOM described the reports as "false" and said no US service members in the region had recently been killed or taken captive. The statement was issued in response to claims alleging that Iranian forces had successfully targeted the al-Tanf base and inflicted casualties on American personnel.
https://platform.x.com/widgets.js🚫 CLAIM: Iranian forces claim they attacked al-Tanf Garrison in Syria and captured or killed American troops in the process. FALSE.
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) July 17, 2026
✅ FACT: No U.S. troops in the region have recently been killed or captured. pic.twitter.com/8TTHb7qYbT
Jul 17, 2026 06:51 PM IST
Will continue strikes until stability is restored, says top IRGC brigadier
Commander of IRGC Aerospace Force Brigadier General Majid Mousavi: Our strategic calculus regards all Iranian territory as indivisible, from Tehran to the southern coasts. We will continue to conduct precise, effective strikes from across the nation against the enemy until stability is restored to the southern shoreline and the Strait of Hormuz.
(Photo: X/IRNA News Agency)
Jul 17, 2026 06:32 PM IST
Oil prices jump as renewed US-Iran hostilities fuel supply concerns
Brent crude and US crude futures rose by more than $2 per barrel after renewed hostilities between the United States and Iran heightened concerns over potential disruptions to global oil supplies and energy markets. Reuters
Jul 17, 2026 05:17 PM IST
38 killed, over 400 injured in recent US strikes on Iran, says report
At least 38 people have been killed and more than 400 injured in recent US strikes on Iran, according to figures released by Iran's Ministry of Health, Tasnim News Agency reported on Friday.
The report cited the head of the ministry's Public Relations and Information Centre as saying that, as of 6:30 am on Friday, the casualties included 38 fatalities and over 400 people wounded in what Iranian authorities described as US attacks.
Among the victims were three women who were killed and 22 women who sustained injuries. The ministry also said one person under the age of 18 was killed, while nine others in the same age group were injured. A total of 47 people remain hospitalized, according to the report.
(Photo: X/@PeteHegseth)
Jul 17, 2026 05:01 PM IST
US strike on Bandar Abbas kills mother, severs her 1-year-old child's arm, says report
A US strike on the Allah Akbar Hill district of Bandar Abbas has resulted in the death of a mother and the severing of her one-year-old child's arm. The infant, who sustained shrapnel wounds to the chest, is reported to be in critical condition, the IRNA News Agency reported.
Jul 17, 2026 04:54 PM IST
Tanker boarded by armed group off Yemen, says British military
A chemical tanker was boarded by an armed group off the coast of Yemen on Friday while it was transiting in the Gulf of Aden, the British military said.The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Center (UKMTO,) said military authorities had reported that the vessel was boarded by “unauthorized personnel” south of al-Mukalla province in Yemen. Ambrey, a British maritime security firm, said Somali pirate are believed to have boarded the tanker, which does not have an armed security team on board.The firm said a Korean naval vessel was on its way to assist the tanker which issued a distress call while heading westbound.The data tracker, Maritime Traffic, showed that the Tanzania-flagged oil and chemical tanker Asana was en route to Bosaso, Somalia.Yemen’s coast guard in Aden didn’t immediately respond to request for comments. AP
Jul 17, 2026 04:17 PM IST
2 drones strike Iranian Kurdish opposition camp near Iraq's Sulaymaniyah
Two drones targeted a camp belonging to an Iranian Kurdish opposition group west of Sulaymaniyah in Iraq's Kurdistan region, according to security sources. No immediate information was available on casualties or the extent of the damage following the attack. Reuters
Jul 17, 2026 04:01 PM IST
VIDEO | Iran launches attack on US base in Kuwait
Iran's semi-official news agency Tasnim on Friday shared a video clip showing Iran's attack against US Army Support Centers in Kuwait. The agency said, "The operation marked the 12th stage of the Iranian Army's Operation Lightning."
https://platform.x.com/widgets.jsIranian Army Conducts Drone Attacks on US Army Support Centers in Kuwait
— Tasnim News Agency (@Tasnimnews_EN) July 17, 2026
The Army of the Islamic Republic of Iran carried out drone attacks on support centers of the terrorist US army in Kuwait.
The operation marked the 12th stage of the Iranian Army's Operation Lightning. pic.twitter.com/KRhdPHPKDb
Jul 17, 2026 03:51 PM IST
Suspected pirates seize tanker off Yemen coast in Gulf of Aden
Armed assailants are believed to have boarded the chemical tanker Asana off the southern coast of Yemen in the Gulf of Aden on Friday and are in control of the vessel, maritime security sources said.
Based on initial assessments, the incident appeared to be related to Somali piracy rather than Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi militia, one of the maritime security sources said.
The small tanker, which had no confirmed flag, had listed the Somali port of Bosaso as its next destination, ship tracking data showed.
Efforts were under way to assist the Asana tanker and determine the circumstances of what happened, said an official with the European Union's Aspides naval mission, which is active in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden region.
A South Korean warship was in the area, the official told Reuters.
"Details regarding the number of assailants, the circumstances of the boarding, and the status of the vessel and crew remain unclear," British maritime risk management group Vanguard said. Reuters
Jul 17, 2026 03:46 PM IST
Iran's IRGC warns of 'more crushing' retaliation, says it targeted US Al Udeid base in Qatar
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has warned the United States and countries hosting American military bases that any further attacks on Iran would be met with "more crushing" retaliation. The IRGC also claimed responsibility for striking the US Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, describing the attack as part of its response to recent US military actions. Reuters
Jul 17, 2026 03:34 PM IST
Unidentified projectiles hit vessel off Oman coast
Iran's official news agency IRNA on Friday reported that an oil tanker came under attack off the coast of Oman. The report said unidentified projectiles struck the vessel.
Photo: X/IRNA News Agency
Jul 17, 2026 03:27 PM IST
Clip shows US strikes hit bridges, railway station and airport in Iran
A video captured by a witness on Friday showed a damaged bridge in the southern Iranian port city of Bandar Khamir following what Tehran described as the latest wave of US military strikes.
Iranian authorities said the attacks targeted five bridges, the Bandar Khamir railway station and Iranshahr Airport in the country's southeast, accusing the United States of expanding its military campaign against Iranian infrastructure.
https://platform.x.com/widgets.jsA video recorded by an eyewitness on Friday shows a damaged bridge in the southern Iranian port city of Bandar Khamir.
— Iran International English (@IranIntl_En) July 17, 2026
Iran said five bridges, Bandar Khamir railway station and Iranshahr Airport in southeastern Iran were targeted in the latest round of US strikes.
Iran also said… pic.twitter.com/G9bG6UFcbu
Jul 17, 2026 03:17 PM IST
Kuwait says Iranian attack damages power generation, water desalination station
One of Kuwait's power generation and water desalination stations was hit in an Iranian attack, causing damage to facilities, a fire and the disruption of a large number of electricity generation units, Kuwait's Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy said on Friday.
Firefighters brought the blaze under control, while technical teams began assessing the damage, securing the station and working to restore the affected electricity generation units to service as soon as possible, the Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy said.
Iran said it launched fresh strikes on U.S. facilities in the Middle East on Friday, including the first direct attack in Syria, after a sixth straight night of U.S. attacks on Iranian military facilities.
Early on Friday, Iran's military said it had attacked U.S. facilities in Bahrain and Kuwait.
Reuters
Jul 17, 2026 03:11 PM IST
Iran strikes eastern Syria, in first such attack during current war
Iran struck eastern Syria on Friday, Iranian state media and a Syrian military source said, in the first known attack by Tehran on Syrian territory since a regional war erupted earlier this year. Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they had attacked a U.S. special operations command centre at al-Tanf in Syria in retaliation for the killing of Iranian soldiers in Iranshahr, state media reported. Reuters could not independently verify the claim. A Syrian military source told Reuters that Iran had carried out an attack near Tanf but that it had not hit the base itself. The source said there were no casualties or material damage. The U.S. military said in February it had completed a withdrawal from the al-Tanf base positioned at the tri-border confluence of Syria, Jordan and Iraq. Syria has sought to avoid being drawn into the regional conflict that has engulfed neighbouring countries, including Lebanon, where Hezbollah has fought Israeli forces, and Iraq, where Iran-backed armed groups have launched drone and rocket attacks. Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa said in March that his country would stay out of any conflict unless it came under attack.
"Unless Syria is targeted by any party, Syria will remain outside any conflict," Sharaa said at an event hosted by the Chatham House think tank in London.
The Guards also said Iran retained full control of the Strait of Hormuz and that no oil or gas would be exported through the waterway for as long as U.S. attacks continued, according to the state media report. Reuters
Jul 17, 2026 02:56 PM IST
US strikes bridges and collapses a tower at a key port in Iran
The United States expanded its airstrike campaign against Iran early Friday by hitting more bridges, energy sites and collapsing a tower at a key Iranian port, part of U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats to start striking infrastructure to pressure Tehran to ease its chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz. Iran launched new missile attacks against U.S.-allied nations in the Middle East, including Qatar, a key mediator in the war.
It also damaged a power and water desalination plant in Kuwait — something crucial in the small, desert nation. The interim ceasefire agreed to last month has collapsed, and the region has endured days of back-and-forth attacks by the U.S. and Iran as they battle for control of the strait. Iranian officials say U.S. strikes have killed dozens of people and wounded hundreds of others, with new casualties reported in Friday’s strikes.
When the U.S. and Israel launched the war on Iran on Feb. 28, Tehran effectively closed the strait to shipping traffic, a move that sent the price of oil soaring and gave Iran major leverage in negotiations.Speaking in a primetime address to the American public, Trump insisted the war was going well. AP
Jul 17, 2026 02:30 PM IST
Kuwait's electrical, desalination power plant damaged in Iranian attack: Ministry
Kuwait's Electricity Ministry Friday claimed that its electrical and desalination power plant was damaged in an attack by Iran, news agency Reuters reported.
Jul 17, 2026 02:29 PM IST
Iran halts train operations from Bandar Abbas following US attacks
Iran has restricted passenger train departures from the Bandar Abbas station following US-led attacks on a railway point in the Hormozgan region, Tasnim news agency reported.
The Hormozgan Railways Administration has also directed passengers to take an intercity bus to the Fin station and catch their trains from there, according to the news agency.
Jul 17, 2026 02:27 PM IST
Mother killed, child critical after US attack on Bandar Abbas
A woman was killed in the US strikes on southern Iran’s Bandar Abbas, which also left her one-year-old child critically injured from shrapnel wounds, Tasnim news agency reported.
The reports also stated that the US strike in the Tappeh Allah Akbar neighborhood of Bandar Abbas killed the mother and left 8 others injured. (Al Jazeera)
Jul 17, 2026 02:16 PM IST
US attacks on civilian locations reveal helplessness, desperation: Iran official
Ebrahim Azizi, the head of the Iranian Parliament’s National Security Committee, Friday stated that the US attacks in southern Iran on residential and civilian zones demonstrate the "helplessness and desperation of the army that claims to uphold human rights in the face of triumphant Iran."
“The proud South has always been Iran’s fortress of defence, and every Iranian’s heart beats there,” he wrote over a post on X.
“To the enemies of this resistant and victorious nation: The Armed Forces will not let the blood of the innocent go [unavenged],” he added.
https://platform.x.com/widgets.jsجرائم أمريكا في جنوب البلاد، كمدرسة ميناب، ومستشفي السرطان للاطفال في أهواز، والصالة الرياضية في لامرد، والهجمات المتكررة على المناطق السكنية والمدنية، وغيرها، تُظهر عجز ويأس الجيش الذي يدّعي حقوق الإنسان في مواجهة إيران المنتصرة في حرب الاثني عشر يوما ومعركة رمضان.
— ابراهیم عزیزی (@Ebrahimazizi33) July 17, 2026
لطالما كان…
Jul 17, 2026 01:59 PM IST
IRGC targets US jets in Jordan: Report
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Friday said that they have targeted US fighter jets stationed in Jordan, Iranian State TV reported. (Al Jazeera)
Jul 17, 2026 01:58 PM IST
Strikes kill 8 Iranian Kurdish fighters in Iraq
An official from the Kurdistan Workers’ Association of Iran Friday announced that at least eight Iranian Kurdish fighters were killed in an attack on Iraq, Al Jazeera reported quoting a report by the Rudaw Media Network.
“Our headquarters in Zarkwezla, Sulaimaniyah Governorate, was targeted by six missiles and caught fire,” the official said, adding that the attack resulted in “the martyrdom of eight Peshmerga fighters and injuries several others.” (Al Jazeera)
Jul 17, 2026 01:21 PM IST
Bahrain intercepts multiple aerial attacks by Iran
Bahrain’s armed forces Friday said that its air defence systems intercepted and destroyed “a number of hostile Iranian aerial attacks.”
“Iran has continued its aggressive approach by carrying out cowardly attacks targeting civilians in the Kingdom of Bahrain,” a statement issued by the military read.
It also urged people to exercise caution, avoid approaching strange or suspicious objects that may have resulted from the Iranian attack, and report them immediately. (Al Jazeera)
Jul 17, 2026 01:01 PM IST
Death toll from US's overnight air attacks on Iran rises to 8
Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency reported that the death toll from overnight US air attacks on the Islamic Republic rose to eight, Al Jazeera quoted.
The US military attacks on infrastructure across Iran also left 20 other people injured, it added. (Al Jazeera)
Jul 17, 2026 12:58 PM IST
Iran launches drone attacks on US Army support centres in Kuwait
The Iranian army Friday carried out drone attacks on support centers of the United States Army in Kuwait, Tasnim news agency reported.
https://platform.x.com/widgets.jsIranian Army Conducts Drone Attacks on US Army Support Centers in Kuwait
— Tasnim News Agency (@Tasnimnews_EN) July 17, 2026
The Army of the Islamic Republic of Iran carried out drone attacks on support centers of the terrorist US army in Kuwait.
The operation marked the 12th stage of the Iranian Army's Operation Lightning. pic.twitter.com/KRhdPHPKDb
Jul 17, 2026 12:56 PM IST
Video: Missiles hit US fifth naval base in Bahrain
Quoting Arab sources, Tasnim news agency reported that at least three missiles had struck the US Fifth Naval Base in Bahrain.
Additionally, a widespread fire broke out at the American base in Kuwait after Iran's retaliatory missile and drone attacks.
https://platform.x.com/widgets.jsMissiles Hit US Fifth Naval Base in Bahrain
— Tasnim News Agency (@Tasnimnews_EN) July 17, 2026
Arabic sources reported that at least three missiles struck the US Fifth Naval Base in Bahrain.
Also, a widespread fire broke out at the American base in Kuwait following Iran's retaliatory missile and drone attacks. pic.twitter.com/FAWFr5IlB6
Jul 17, 2026 12:53 PM IST
US attacks Bandar Khamir county, explosions heard in other parts of Iran
The United States launched attacks on the Bandar Khamir County and the Kahurestan section in Iran on Friday, Tasnim news agency reported.
The sound of several explosions was also heard in Bandar Abbas and Shiraz in the early hours of Friday.
Jul 17, 2026 12:50 PM IST
Explosion heard in Sirik county in Hormozgan province, prince says
The sound of an explosion was heard in the US attack on Sirik county in the eastern Hormozgan province, the Hormozgan Prince stated Thursday night, according to the Tasnim News Agency.
Jul 17, 2026 12:48 PM IST
US forces shoot down multiple explosive drones over Erbil, north Iraq
The Kurdish counterterrorism forces Friday said that the United States coalition forces shot down eight explosive drones over the city of Erbil in the Kurdish region of northern Iraq, the Iraqi News Agency (INA) reported.
No casualties were reported in the incident, the Kurdish forces added. (Al Jazeera)
Jul 17, 2026 12:33 PM IST
Tanker hit by unknown projectile off Oman’s coast: UKMTO
A tanker was hit by an unknown projectile on Thursday while it was sailing about 35 km east of Khasab, Oman, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency stated.
The crew is reportedly safe, with no environmental impact, UKMTO added. (Al Jazeera)
Jul 17, 2026 12:31 PM IST
38 killed, 400 injured in US attacks since ceasefire deal, says Iran
Iran Friday said that about 38 people have been killed, and more than 400 have been injured, in the US attacks since the two sides met in Switzerland last month for talks to end the war through a 60-day negotiation period, the AFP news agency reported.
(Al Jazeera)
Jul 17, 2026 12:29 PM IST
Pete Hegseth shares image of collapsing surveillance tower in Chabahar
United States Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared the image of the surveillance tower in Chabahar collapsing, as part of his effort to assert American control over the Strait of Hormuz.
The strikes conducted by the US military’s Central Command had collapsed a tower at Iran’s Chabahar port on the Gulf of Oman -- a key trade route for Afghanistan, the state-run IRNA news agency reported.
Chabahar port, which Iran had been running with support from India, has been a repeated target of American airstrikes.
Iranian state media acknowledged a third round of strikes on the facility on Friday, however, did not immediately acknowledge the tower’s collapse. (AP)
https://platform.x.com/widgets.jshttps://t.co/jZlSVRePRC pic.twitter.com/Nj5o0oiphH
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) July 17, 2026
Jul 17, 2026 12:21 PM IST
Iran threatens to push Yemen's Houthis to shut Bab al-Mandeb Strait if US continues attacks
As the United States expanded its attacks on Tehran's infrastructure, Iran on Friday threatened it could press its Houthi allies in Yemen to shut the Bab al-Mandeb Strait at the mouth of the Red Sea, Al Jazeera reported.
The Bab al-Mandeb Strait connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, serving as a crucial waterway for global oil trade. It is particularly significant at the time since Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz. (Al Jazeera)
Jul 17, 2026 12:18 PM IST
Oil prices rise as tensions soar between US and Iran
Oil prices rose on Friday after tensions between US and Iran soared further, leading Tehran to ask Yemen’s Houthis to stand ready to shut the Red Sea export route, Al Jazeera reported.
Brent crude, the primary global benchmark, rose by about 0.18 percent, to $84.38 per barrel at 12:15 IST.
Meanwhile, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose up by 0.42 per cent, to $79.40 a barrel, according to oilprice.com.
Jul 17, 2026 12:09 PM IST
One child injured by falling shrapnel after aerial interceptions over Doha
A child was injured by falling shrapnel following aerial interceptions over Doha, according to Qatar’s Ministry of Interior.
The ministry stated that the child is currently receiving appropriate medical treatment.
According to an Al Jazeera report, the civil authority in Doha is well prepared as attacks continue over the skies. They will also be seeking appropriate treatment immediately, it added.
Jul 17, 2026 11:48 AM IST
IRGC targets US maritime surveillance radar in Oman: state media
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Friday said that they have targeted the US maritime surveillance radar in Oman, state media reported.
Jul 17, 2026 11:46 AM IST
China and Pakistan call for US-Iran ceasefire, resumption of talks
China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Pakistani counterpart Ishaq Dar have called for a ceasefire and the resumption of dialogue between the United States and Iran, the Chinese foreign ministry told news agency Reuters.
The foreign ministry cited the talks between the ministers in Shanghai on Thursday.
During the meeting, Wang urged all parties to fulfill their commitments and abide by the ceasefire memorandum of understanding, the foreign ministry stated. (Reuters)
Jul 17, 2026 11:18 AM IST
US strikes bridges and collapses a tower at a key port as its Iran campaign expands
The United States expanded its airstrike campaign against Iran early Friday by hitting more bridges and collapsing a tower at a key Iranian port, part of US President Donald Trump’s threats to start striking infrastructure to pressure Tehran to ease its chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran launched new missile attacks against US-allied nations in the Middle East, including Qatar, a key mediator in the war. The interim ceasefire agreed to last month has collapsed, and the region has endured days of back-and-forth attacks by the US and Iran as they battle for control of the strait.
Jul 17, 2026 11:05 AM IST
Jordan says it shot down 3 Iranian missiles
The Jordanian army has said that it shot down three Iranian missiles targeting the country after its air defense systems intercepted the projectiles.
The army said that the incident did not cause any human casualties as Jordan’s Royal Engineering Corps teams dealt with falling shrapnel.
Jul 17, 2026 10:31 AM IST
IRGC targets US command centre in Syria
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) says it has attacked a US special operations command centre at the al-Tanf military base in Syria, the Tasnim news agency reports.
The IRGC also said the attack was in retaliation for the killing of Iranian soldiers in Iranshahr.
The Guard also said Iran retained full control of the Strait of Hormuz and that no oil or gas would be exported through the waterway for as long as the renewed US attacks continued.
Jul 17, 2026 10:03 AM IST
Explosions reported in Iraq’s northern city of Sulaimaniyah
The Kurdish news platform Rudaw reports that four loud explosions were heard in the city of Sulaimaniyah in the Kurdish region of northern Iraq.
Jul 17, 2026 09:27 AM IST
Iranian army claims drone strikes on US military sites in Kuwait
The Iranian army says it targeted US military deployment sites and logistical support centres in Kuwait with drones.
According to a statement carried by the Fars news agency, the military said, “Relying on history, popular support, experience, and combat readiness, we stand with vigilance and authority against any pressure or threat.”
Jul 17, 2026 09:23 AM IST
Iran launches fresh attacks after sixth day of US strikes
Iran said it launched fresh attacks on US facilities in the Gulf on Friday after a sixth consecutive night of US strikes on Iranian military facilities, as last month's truce descended into daily attacks and counterattacks.
The US military said it completed another night of strikes on Iran "to further degrade Iranian military capabilities", including on Qeshm Island and near Bandar Abbas, home to Iran's largest port and key navy and Revolutionary Guards facilities.
Jul 17, 2026 09:06 AM IST
Qatar intercepting a number of air attacks: Defence ministry
Qatar’s Ministry of Defence says the country’s armed forces are currently intercepting a number of air attacks.
Earlier, we reported that a child was injured by falling shrapnel following an Iranian attack that targeted Qatar.
Jul 17, 2026 08:42 AM IST
US air strike hits Iran’s Chabahar maritime control tower for third time
Iran’s Mehr news agency reports that a US missile strike has hit the Chabahar maritime control tower.
The attack marks the third time a US strike has hit the facility over the past week, it added.
Jul 17, 2026 08:26 AM IST
Child wounded after Iranian attack on Qatar, Interior Ministry says
A child was wounded following an Iranian attack on Qatar Friday morning, the country’s Interior Ministry said.
The child was hurt by a piece of falling shrapnel from an intercepted strike and is receiving treatment, the ministry said.
Jul 17, 2026 07:59 AM IST
US military completes major wave of strikes against Iran, CENTCOM says
The US military says it has “successfully” completed its latest major wave of strikes against Iran, according to US Central Command (CENTCOM).
“US forces, including fighter jets, aerial drones, and warships, launched precision munitions that hit dozens of Iranian military targets such as coastal surveillance and air defense sites, military logistics infrastructure, and maritime capabilities,” CENTCOM said.
Jul 17, 2026 07:47 AM IST
US expands its airstrike campaign against Iran by hitting more bridges
The United States expanded its airstrike campaign against Iran early Friday by increasingly hitting bridges, part of President Donald Trump's threats to start striking infrastructure to pressure Tehran to ease its chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz. Iran launched new missile attacks against US-allied nations in the Middle East and warned that its attacks would escalate.
The US military's Central Command said it hit dozens of targets in its latest airstrikes, which concluded at dawn Friday, the sixth night in a row of American attacks.
Jul 17, 2026 07:43 AM IST
Qatar’s Defence Ministry says military intercepted missile attack
In a statement shared on X, the Ministry of Defence said its armed forces intercepted a missile attack that had targeted Qatar.
— وزارة الدفاع - دولة قطر (@MOD_Qatar) July 17, 2026
Jul 17, 2026 07:38 AM IST
Oil rises on intensifying US-Iran hostilities and threat of Red Sea closure
Oil prices inched higher on Friday after the US and Iran stepped up attacks across the Gulf, with their broken truce limiting oil flows out of the Strait of Hormuz and with Tehran asking the Houthi movement to stand ready to shut the Red Sea export route.
Brent crude futures rose $1.05, or about 1.25%, to $85.28 a barrel by 0118 GMT, and US West Texas Intermediate futures rose $1.03, or 1.3%, to $79.98 a barrel, erasing losses from the previous session.
Both benchmark contracts have climbed nearly 12% this week, with Brent on track for a third consecutive weekly gain and WTI for a second weekly gain.
Jul 17, 2026 07:02 AM IST
US is ‘winning big in Iran’, Trump claims
The US president is currently addressing the nation, saying that the US has the upper hand in its joint conflict with Israel against Iran.
“You will see the fruits of that labour very, very shortly,” Trump added.
Jul 17, 2026 06:57 AM IST
Air raid sirens heard in Bahrain after Iran claims attack on US airbase
Air raid sirens have been activated in Bahrain after Iran's army reportedly claimed it had targeted U.S. helicopters and reconnaissance aircraft at Sakhir airbase in Bahrain.
"The alarm siren has been activated," Bahrain's Interior Ministry said on X.
"We urge citizens and residents to remain calm, head to the nearest safe location, and follow updates through official channels," the ministry added.
Bahraini and US officials did not immediately confirm that the airbase had been struck.
تم إطلاق صافرة الإنذار ، نرجو من المواطنين والمقيمين الهدوء والتوجه لأقرب مكان آمن ومتابعة الأخبار عبر القنوات الرسمية.
— Ministry of Interior (@moi_bahrain) July 16, 2026
Jul 17, 2026 06:47 AM IST
Qatar says security threat has ended, situation back to normal
Qatar’s Ministry of Interior has announced that the security threat has ended and the situation in the country has returned to normal, according to the state news agency QNA.
The ministry urged the public to continue following any official instructions and guidance issued by the relevant authorities.
Jul 17, 2026 06:15 AM IST
Qatar warns public about incoming Iranian barrage as air defenses fire
Qatar warns public about incoming Iranian barrage as air defenses fire.
Jul 17, 2026 06:01 AM IST
US defence secretary claims Iran does not control Strait of Hormuz
“Iran does not control the SoH Strait of Hormuz,” Pentagon chief Pete Hesgeth says in a post on X.
His post is accompanied by images of soldiers boarding a vessel in the Gulf of Oman, shared earlier by US Central Command as part of the US’s military blockade of Iran.
Earlier, we reported that US forces have redirected three commercial vessels attempting to run the blockade.
Iran does not control the SoH.
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) July 16, 2026
cc: @USMC @CENTCOM pic.twitter.com/mmWGwPJ6yW
Jul 17, 2026 05:50 AM IST
US forces launch new wave of strikes against Iran for sixth straight night
US forces have launched a new wave of strikes targeting Iranian military sites.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced the attacks on Thursday.
"At 2 p.m. ET today, US forces began conducting a new wave of strikes against Iran for the sixth consecutive night to further degrade Iranian military capabilities."
Jul 17, 2026 05:42 AM IST
IEA chief says world should be worried about energy security if Strait of Hormuz situation does not improve in next weeks
The head of the International Energy Agency Fatih Birol said on Thursday that if the US and Iran do not come together to improve flows of oil through the Strait of Hormuz soon the world should be worried about energy security.
"Oil security is still a critical issue," Birol told a Council on Foreign Relations event. "We should be worried, and I am worried if the situation does not improve in the next few weeks."
Jul 17, 2026 05:40 AM IST
Kuwait says responding to Iranian missile and drone attacks
The Kuwaiti defence ministry says it is responding to Iranian missile and drone attacks, adding that loud sounds heard across the country were due to interceptions.
Jul 17, 2026 05:40 AM IST
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