Saudi Arabia condemns drone attack on ships in Egyptian port Saudi Arabia has condemned the drone attack that caused a fire on board two ships in Egypt’s Damietta Port. In a statement, the Saudi foreign ministry expressed its “full solidarity” with Cairo, saying that the kingdom supports “all measures” taken by Egypt “to preserve its sovereignty and protect its security and interests”.
Iraq says it neither approved nor had prior knowledge of US-Saudi strikes Iraqi government spokesperson Haider al-Aboudi said on Thursday that Baghdad neither approved nor had prior knowledge of US-Saudi strikes on Iraqi territory, the state news agency reported. Saudi Arabia and the US Central Command (Centcom) carried out strikes against Iran-backed groups in Iraq that they said were responsible for drone attacks on the kingdom's oil facilities.
Houthis consider imposing fees for Red Sea passage: Report Yemen's Houthis could be looking to impose fees on maritime traffic coming through the Bab el-Mandeb gateway, the Reuters news agency reported on Wednesday, citing regional sources. Saudi Arabia has utilised Bab el-Mandeb as an alternative to the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has blocked for US-allied vessels since March, following the launch of the US-Israeli war on Iran on 28 February. And last week, the Houthis attacked a Saudi tanker off the southern Saudi port of Jizan.
Egypt says it has energy alternatives after drone attack on Damietta gas vessel Egypt has secured alternatives to cover its energy needs after a drone attack on Wednesday damaged a gas vessel at Damietta port, Al Jazeera reported Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly as saying. No group has claimed responsibility, and authorities are continuing their investigation, he said.
Israeli forces injure Palestinian man near Nablus Israeli forces shot and wounded a Palestinian man after opening fire on his vehicle in the town of Beita, south of Nablus, in the occupied West Bank, on Thursday evening, Wafa news agency reported, citing the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS). Amid Ahmad, director of the PRCS Emergency and Ambulance Centre in Nablus, said ambulance crews treated the 59-year-old man after he was shot in the neck with live ammunition. He was transferred to hospital for treatment.
Saudi Arabia unveils plans for multinational maritime defence coalition Saudi Arabia on Thursday unveiled plans for a multinational maritime defence coalition aimed at protecting international shipping and energy supply routes in the Red Sea region after attacks by Yemen's Houthis disrupted one of the world's busiest trade corridors. The Saudi defence ministry said representatives from 43 countries and the European Union attended an international meeting that discussed the proposed coalition, including Saudi Arabia serving as its founding and leading state and hosting its headquarters. The ministry said the coalition would strengthen maritime security, safeguard freedom of navigation, secure international trade routes and energy supply lines, and protect shared maritime interests in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Gulf of Aden.
Iran says its army struck US assets at Bahrain’s Sheikh Isa base Iran's army launched an attack on US assets at Bahrain's Sheikh Isa Air Base, Iranian state media reported. The air base hosts key facilities used by the US Navy's Fifth Fleet and has come under repeated Iranian attacks during the war. US and Bahraini authorities have not independently confirmed the claim.
Houthis consider imposing fees for Red Sea passage: Report Submitted by MEE staff on Thu, 07/30/2026 - 17:24 The group imposed a maritime embargo on Saudi Arabia as of 20 July A commercial vessel passes through an international shipping lane off Yemen's Hanish Island in the Red Sea, on 27 July 2026 (Khaled Ziad/AFP) Off Yemen's Houthis could be looking to impose fees on maritime traffic coming through the Bab el-Mandeb gateway, the Reuters news agency reported on Wednesday, citing regional sources. Saudi Arabia has utilised Bab el-Mandeb as an alternative to the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has blocked for US-allied vessels since March, following the launch of the US-Israeli war on Iran on 28 February. And last week, the Houthis attacked a Saudi tanker off the southern Saudi port of Jizan.
Israeli forces bomb town in southern Lebanon Israeli forces have attacked the southern Lebanese town of Taybeh in the Marjayoun district, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency. Israel continues to launch attacks on Lebanon despite its ceasefire agreement with the Lebanese government and ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the Israeli occupation.
US military says no US aircraft hit in attempted Iranian attacks The US military said on Thursday that no US aircraft were destroyed or damaged in recent attempted Iranian attacks, denying a claim it said was made by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps that three US F-35 jets and three other aircraft were destroyed. In a statement, US Central Command also said the commercial vessel M/T Nora had not broken through America's blockade of Iranian ports, denying a claim it said was made on Iranian state media.
Kuwait's chief of staff meets in Saudi Arabia with defence coalition for Bab el-Mandeb strait Kuwait's chief of staff, General Khaled Al-Shuraian, met in Saudi Arabia with a "maritime defence coalition" to preserve freedom of navigation in Bab el-Mandeb strait, Kuwait's state news agency reported on Thursday.
Iran holds funeral for pilot killed during March mission Funeral ceremonies have begun in Iran for air force pilot Majid Kazemi, who was killed during a combat mission in March. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei paid tribute to the second brigadier general after authorities recovered and identified his remains. Kazemi was one of four crew members aboard two Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force Su-24 bombers taking part in an attack on 2 March 2026.
Support for Israeli-US war on Iran falls as most Americans call it pointless Public backing in the United States for the war on Iran has continued to weaken, a new poll has found. About two-thirds of US adults said the conflict which Israeli pushed the country in had no purpose and was not worth pursuing, the survey by the Associated Press and the NORC Center for Public Affairs Research showed. The findings also indicated declining support for President Donald Trump’s decision to wage war, with few respondents favouring a prolonged conflict.
IRGC says it downed hostile drone over southwestern Iran Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) says it intercepted and destroyed a hostile drone over the southwestern port city of Bandar Imam Khomeini early on Thursday. The IRGC’s local division detected the unmanned aircraft inside the city’s airspace before shooting it down, the Tasnim news agency reported. Parts of the drone fell onto a residential property following the interception, but authorities reported no deaths.
IRGC says US missile attack killed three personnel Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) says a US missile attack killed three of its personnel on 30 July. The IRGC’s Ansar al-Mahdi branch in Zanjan province identified those killed as Mahmoud Mollajabari, Mohammadreza Cheraghi and Jamal Amiri, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported. The branch said the three died while “defending Iran’s borders and people”.
IRGC says missiles destroyed three US F-35 jets at Jordan base Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) says it fired several ballistic missiles at Jordan’s al-Azraq airbase, which hosts US F-35 fighter jets. The IRGC said the attack targeted a runway and maintenance hangar in response to a US strike on Iran’s Qeshm Island that killed two parents and their child, the Fars news agency reported. It said the missiles completely destroyed three F-35 aircraft and inflicted “heavy damage” on three others.
London insurers expand Red Sea high-risk zone after Houthi attacks London’s marine insurance market has expanded the section of the Red Sea it classifies as high risk following renewed Houthi attacks on commercial vessels. The Joint War Committee moved the northern boundary of its designated risk zone further up the Red Sea in guidance issued on 29 July. The committee comprises underwriters from Lloyd’s syndicates and representatives of London insurance companies.
Iranian press review: Iran relies on speedboats to keep Strait of Hormuz closed Submitted by MEE correspondent on Thu, 07/30/2026 - 09:54 Meanwhile, former IRGC navy chief calls for an end to the war with the US, students accuse Iranian embassy of working with Belarusian security services Iranian seamen piloting a speedboat near a Chinese Navy type 903A ship at sea during a 2024 naval exercise between Iran, Russia, and China in the Gulf of Oman (Iranian Army office/AFP) Off Speedboats described as key deterrent in Gulf As renewed attacks between Iran and the US expand into Iraq and Yemen, the Hamshahri daily, which has close ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), has dedicated its front page to a report on the force's speedboats in the Gulf. On Wednesday, the daily described the boats as the "winning card in the Persian Gulf" and said they are one of the main elements of Iran's deterrence against an expansion of US attacks. "The fleet has become one of the most complex challenges facing American forces in the Persian Gulf over the past two decades by relying on the 'swarm attack' tactic.
US awards Lockheed Martin $58. 6bn Patriot missile contract The US Army has awarded Lockheed Martin a contract worth up to $58. 6bn to expand production of Patriot interceptor missiles, the Reuters news agency reported.
Influential Iraqi Shia leader blames Iraqi militias for deaths in US-Saudi strikes Influential Iraqi Shia leader Muqtada al-Sadr has blamed armed groups and Baghdad’s failure to establish state control over weapons for fighters killed in joint US-Saudi air strikes. Writing on X, al-Sadr accused militia leaders of pursuing personal interests while exposing their fighters and Iraqi security personnel to deadly attacks. “The militias’ reckless actions and the failure to restrict weapons to the state have been, and continue to be, the cause of the unjust martyrdom of our fighters,” he said.
