Blasts reported in Iraq’s northern city of Sulaimaniyah Four loud explosions were reported in the city of Sulaimaniyah, located in the Kurdish region of northern Iraq, according to the platform Rudaw.
IRGC says it launched attack on US command centre in Syria Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it launched an attack on a US special operations command centre at al-Tanf in Syria. According to a statement carried by the Tasnim news agency, the IRGC said the attack was in retaliation for the killing of Iranian soldiers in Iranshahr. The IRGC also claimed full control of the Strait of Hormuz, adding that no oil or gas would be exported through the key waterway for as long as US attacks continued.
US strikes on Iranian bridges kill seven, fresh blasts reported in Iran's Chabahar, Iranian state media is reporting that the death toll from attacks on bridges south of the country has killed seven civilians so far. At least five bridges were damaged in the latest US strikes on Iran. Meanwhile, new explosions sounded off in the port city of Chabahar south east of the country.
Explosions heard in Qatar, sirens sound off in Bahrain as Iran claims attacks in Kuwait Qatar's defence ministry indicated that it is intercepting a number of aerial attacks, after several reports of blasts heard in the capital of Doha. Meanwhile, sirens have been activated in Bahrain for a second time on Friday. In Kuwait, the Iranian army said it targeted US forces and logistical support centres in the Gulf country using drones.
Israel establishing new permanent military posts in southern Lebanon: Report The Israeli army has started setting up a new line of permanent military posts in southern Lebanon as a way of strengthening its hold in the area, according to Israeli daily Maariv. The daily suggested that the move could cause increased tension between Israel and the US amid differences over Tel Aviv's military presence in Lebanon. This is especially as talks between Beirut and Tel Aviv are ongoing, amid Washington's mediation.
Trump is still 'open to diplomacy' with Iran, White House press secretary says White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has said US President Trump is “open to diplomacy” and that the US is still talking with Iran amid escalating tensions in the region. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has said US President Trump is “open to diplomacy” and that the US is still talking with Iran amid escalating tensions in the region. pic.
US attack on key bridge in Iran's Hormozgan province kills two At least two were killed and four others wounded following US attacks on the Gariveh bridge in Hormozgan province's Khamir County, state media reported. Another US strike elsewhere in the country struck a neighbourhood in Bandar Abbas, southern Iran, killing one and injuring eight others.
Head of International Energy Agency says oil security remains a 'critical issue' The head of the International Energy Agency, Fatih Birol, said on Thursday that if the US and Iran do not unite to improve flows of oil through the vital Strait of Hormuz, the world should soon be concerned 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.
Qatar says it intercepted attacks Qatar said Friday it intercepted a missile attack, after several blasts were heard in the Gulf country's capital. "The Ministry of Defense of State of Qatar announces that armed forces intercepted missile attack which targeted State of Qatar," the defence ministry wrote on X.
Blasts rock Qatar's Doha Several explosions were heard in Qatar's capital Doha early on Friday, but cause of the sounds was not immediately clear. A government security alert was also sent to mobile phones, according to various reports. The public safety alert, which has since been indicated to be over by the interior ministry, warned that the security threat level was "elevated" and urged residents to take shelter.
US hit on Iran's Iranshahr Airport causes damage, wounds one A US attack on Iranshahr Airport in south eastern Iran wounded at least one civilian and caused damage to facilities, Iranian state TV reported. According to the report, at least one US projectile had hit the airport, located in the Sistan and Baluchestan province. As a result, electrical facilities and a fuel tank were damaged, causing a power outage.
Kuwait army says confronting 'hostile' attacks, air raid sirens blare in Bahrain Kuwaiti air defences are responding to "hostile missile and drone attacks" from Iran, the Gulf country's army indicated. "Everyone is kindly requested to adhere to the security and safety instructions issued by the competent authorities," the statement added. Elsewhere, Bahrain's interior ministry announced that sirens have been sounded off across the country, urging citizens and residents to "remain calm and head to the nearest safe place".
Strait of Hormuz won’t return to pre-war status, Iran says The situation in the Strait of Hormuz “will never return to what it was before the 40-day war,” Iranian armed forces spokesman Ebrahim Zolfaghari said. The spokesperson said US is “terrified” of Iran’s “sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz,” as he accused Washington of destabilising the security in the critical transit corridor. Iran has asked countries in the Gulf “not to allow America to use their territories to attack us,” he added.
‘Series of explosions in Kuwait’, report says A series of explosions hit Kuwait, Iran’s Fars news agency reported, citing Iraqi media. The blasts could be heard as far away as Basra in southern Iraq, the report said.
Saudi Arabia mulls military escalation in response to Houthi threats Submitted by Sean Mathews on Thu, 07/16/2026 - 20:52 Saudi Arabian official says the US has given broad remit to pursue offensive strikes on the Houthis Supporters of Yemen's Houthis commemorate Eid al-Ghadir in Yemen's Sanaa, on 4 June 2026 (Mohammed Huwais/AFP) Off Saudi Arabia is weighing different options to deal with the Houthis, who are escalating their threats against the kingdom in a sign officials and analysts say could forebode a return to fighting in Yemen. The kingdom’s defence minister, Khalid bin Salman, has suggested that the US is giving Saudi Arabia leeway to pursue offensive strikes against the Houthis, multiple US and regional officials told Middle East Eye. However, its leadership has not made a decision.
Iran state media reports new strikes, explosions in south Iranian state media reported explosions and US strikes in locations across the south on Thursday night, AFP reported. State TV reported two explosions in the city of Bushehr - home to Iran's only civilian nuclear plant - in a "continuation of the American enemy aggression," as well as a series of unattributed explosions in coastal Bandar Abbas. The official news agency IRNA also reported "American enemy attacks on areas around Ahvaz," where fearful residents said they had heard intense strikes for a second night in a row.
John Esposito, would-be Catholic priest turned renowned scholar of Islam, dies aged 86 Submitted by MEE staff on Thu, 07/16/2026 - 17:43 Esposito's distinguished career path was unexpectedly shaped by a Palestinian academic John Esposito, professor of religion, international affairs, and Islamic studies at Georgetown University in Washington, DC, speaks to Middle East Eye's Unapologetic podcast in August 2025 (Screengrab) Off John Esposito, a world-renowned American author, professor, and scholar of Islam who consistently challenged western stereotypes, died aged 86 on Wednesday, his colleagues at Georgetown University in Washington, DC, announced . A Catholic from an Italian family in Brooklyn, New York, Esposito spent a lifetime studying Islamic life, its laws, and its application to the political sphere around the world. He wrote, edited, and contributed to some 55 books on the subject, most of them confronting what he said were misunderstood and even manufactured narratives on Muslims, in particular in the post-9/11 era.
Explosions reported in Iran’s Bushehr Iran’s IRNA news agency reports that explosions have been heard in Bushehr in southern Iran. Blasts have also been reported in the southern Iranian city of Ahvaz as the US launched a sixth round of strikes on the country on Thursday evening.
US embassy in Baghdad issues security alert after drone attack The US embassy in Baghdad advised American citizens in Iraq to remain on alert, following a drone attack on Erbil on Wednesday. “Do not travel to Iraq due to terrorism, kidnapping, armed conflict, civil unrest, and the US government’s limited ability to provide emergency services to US citizens in Iraq,” the embassy said in a social media post. الإجراءات الواجب اتخاذها •تابع وسائل الإعلام المحلية والتزم بتعليمات السلطات المحلية.
Iranian strikes on Kuwait resulted in material damage, report says Iranian strikes targeted a number of vital facilities in Kuwait, Reuters reported, citing the country’s defence ministry. The strikes resulted in material damage, it added.
