Iran launched fresh attacks at American military bases across the Middle East on Friday after Donald Trump vowed “major punishment” over Tehran’s unwavering hold on shipping.
The Iranian army said it had attacked US military equipment depots at Al-Adiri in northern Kuwait and damaged a surveillance tower used by the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain after US Central Command confirmed a 13th consecutive night of strikes on Iran.
The Iranians also said they had attacked a US barracks and fighter jets in Jordan, and US barracks, a spy balloon and Patriot air defences in Erbil, Iraq.
Both sides traded strikes after Donald Trump announced that he would hold Iran accountable for attacks by Iran and the allied Houthi rebels in Yemen for extending the war to a second major shipping chokepoint, the mouth of the Red Sea.
Insiders close to the US president told the Wall Street Journal that Trump is losing patience with Iran and sees few options besides continuing strikes.
The US military is now reportedly moving weapons, medics and special forces to the Middle East to broaden options as hopes of a diplomatic resolution wane.
Read MorePentagon reduced death count from Iran war to match Trump timeline: report
UK ready to shoot down Iranian missiles after Tehran threatens RAF base
Oil prices jump to 100 dollars a barrel after Red Sea shipping attacks
Key Points
- US surges forces and weapons to Middle East as Trump considers expanding Iran war
- UK 'ready to defend itself' after Iran criticises US using British bases
- Oil prices jump to $100 a barrel after Red Sea attacks
- Tanker crossings in Strait of Hormuz fall to lowest level in more than two months
- ICYMI: Iran 'flew IRGC commanders and missile gear to Yemen's Houthis'
Trump says Putin and Xi have claimed not to be selling weapons to Iran
17:16 , Holly EvansDonald Trump has said that both Russian president Vladimir Putin and Chinese president Xi Jinping have stated they are not giving or selling weapons to Iran.
He said that he took the Beijing leader “at his word” and added that he was doing him “very big favours”.
The US president added: “Likewise, President Putin, despite the horrible War going on in Ukraine (The relationship remains, as it does with President Zelenskyy), told me that he would not sell Weapons to Iran.
“He understands that I do not sell Weapons to Ukraine, but to NATO Countries. They pay full price, and how those Weapons are distributed, I have no idea.
“Therefore, two major Countries that people speak of often in terms of Iran are, in my opinion, not participating. If they did, it would be very bad for them — Certainly not in their best interests.”
Dubai has offers residents £600 to invite tourists to region
17:00 , James ReynoldsDubai has offered residents rewards worth more than £600 to invite visitors to the emirate following a drop in tourism amid the Iran-US war.
The “Dubai Invite” programme, an initiative of the Department of Economy and Tourism, invites locals to bring their friends and family to Dubai in exchange for benefits such as hotel stays, dining experiences and attraction tickets.
Between 20 July and 31 October, those living in the United Arab Emirates city will be eligible for packages worth up to AED3,000 (£610) each.
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Dubai offers residents £600 to invite tourists to region
What is the ‘Gate of Tears’? Key shipping route that could be attacked by Houthis and disrupt global economy
16:00 , James ReynoldsDonald Trump’s threats to blockade the Strait of Hormuz have sparked fears Iran could counterattack by urging its Houthi allies in Yemen to halt sea traffic through another major shipping corridor in the Middle East.
The entry of the Houthi rebels into the Iran war at the end of March sparked concerns that the group, known for its attacks on shipping, could block the vital Bab al-Mandab strait to oil tankers, causing further economic chaos.
Like the Strait of Hormuz, the strait, also known as the “Gate of Tears”, is a chokepoint in the region through which large volumes of petroleum and liquefied natural gas pass. Crucially, it’s a vital strategic link in the maritime trade route between the Mediterranean Sea and the Indian Ocean, via the Red Sea and the Suez Canal.
In full:
What is the ‘Gate of Tears’? Key shipping route that could be attacked by Houthis
Omanis arrive in Iran to discuss Hormuz reopening
15:52 , James ReynoldsAn Omani diplomatic delegation is in Iran to discuss mechanisms to manage ship traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iranian state media.
Watch: US military says it completed 13th night of strikes against Iran
15:28 , James ReynoldsTrump says Saudi Arabia must recognise Israel for nuclear deal to go ahead as president defends ‘dangerous’ plan
15:00 , James ReynoldsUS president Donald Trump has defended his nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia, insisting it is dependent on Riyadh joining the Abraham Accords and recognising the State of Israel.
The deal will allow the kingdom to enrich uranium and build nuclear reactors using US technology, without requiring the snap UN inspections that Washington has previously demanded from Iran. But critics have branded the deal “dangerous” and warned it could lead to an arms race in the region.
“The Civil Nuclear Deal (There will be no enrichment of material!) being made between the United States Department of Energy and Saudi Arabia, which pertains only to non-military use such as the ones that Iran and UAE (and others) already have, will be approved, but is totally subject to Saudi Arabia joining the very respected and successful Abraham Accords,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Read the full story:
Trump says Saudi Arabia must recognise Israel for nuclear deal to go ahead
Recap: Trump is in ‘revenge mode’ and losing patience with Iran
14:30 , James ReynoldsDonald Trump is in “revenge mode” with Iran and believes the only way to get through to its leadership is with military force, allies have said as the US military carried out a 13th consecutive day of strikes.
A senior administration official told the Wall Street Journal that the US president was losing patience and sees few good options in front of him besides continuing strikes.
Officials and those close to the president said he is increasingly frustrated that a conflict he expected to be wrapped up within weeks is still dragging on with no end in sight.
The US military is now reportedly moving weapons, medics and special forces to the Middle East to broaden options as hopes of a diplomatic resolution wane.
In a bid to break Iran’s hold on the Strait of Hormuz, Trump also announced overnight that any damage sustained by ships as a result of Iranian strikes would be compensated with frozen Iranian assets held in the US.
Watch: Trump 'would like to be the next president' despite constitutional two-term limit
14:00 , James ReynoldsRecap: Trump vows to compensate damaged ships with frozen Iranian money
13:30 , James Reynolds
In pictures: Iran's top diplomat meets with Iraqi PM in Tehran
13:00 , James Reynolds
UK defence spending ‘not enough to protect the country’, BAE boss warns
12:30 , James ReynoldsUK defence spending "falls well short" of what is required to protect the country, the chief executive of BAE Systems has warned.
Charles Woodburn described the current climate as “the most threatening time I’ve seen” and warned Russia's military advances before and during its war with Ukraine were a key concern.
Despite the Government announcing an additional £15 billion for defence in June, the then defence secretary John Healey resigned, citing inadequate military funding.
Read the full story:
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UK defence spending ‘not enough to protect the country’, BAE boss warns
The latest: Trump in 'revenge mode' as war drags on - report
12:00 , James ReynoldsGood morning. If you are just joining us, here’s the latest:
- Donald Trump is increasingly frustrated that a war he thought would be over within weeks is dragging on with no end in sight, the WSJ reported, citing administration officials and people close to the US president.
- The outlet also reported that Trump is in “revenge mode” and believes Iran only understands force. It said the US was surging forces, medics and weaponry to the region to give more options if Washington chooses to escalate again.
- The US military said it had completed a 13th consecutive night of strikes on Iran in an effort to dislodge its hold on the Strait of Hormuz, while the Islamic Republic announced strikes on Jordan and sirens sounded in Bahrain.
- Trump announced that any damage done to ships by Iran would be compensated with frozen Iranian assets held by the US - a point of leverage earlier referenced in talks to end the war.
- The number of tankers crossing the Strait of Hormuz fell to just one on Thursday, the lowest level since 7 May. The very large crude carrier New Giant, loaded with 2 million barrels of Iraqi Basrah crude, exited the strait on Thursday and is due to arrive at China's Rizhao port by mid-August.
Analysis: Listen carefully to Karoline Leavitt. She’s revealing Trump’s scariest plans
11:40 , James ReynoldsIn a short briefing on Thuesday, the White House press secretary made some claims about Saudi Arabia and Iran — and US elections — that should ring serious alarm bells, writes Holly Baxter
If you listen closely to Karoline Leavitt, Trump’s scariest plans are being revealed
Iran threatens Trump over plan to seize Iranian assets for damaged ships
11:37 , James ReynoldsIn a bid to break Iran’s hold on the Strait of Hormuz, Trump announced overnight that any damage sustained by ships as a result of Iranian strikes would be compensated with frozen Iranian assets held in the US.
Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi has since suggested Iran could escalate if the move goes ahead. He wrote on X: “Seizing another nation's assets to pay for unrelated future claims is an incendiary precedent.
“Those who celebrate or profit from such funds should remember: once governments normalize confiscation, no one's assets are safe. Ensuing chaos will not be pretty or peaceful.”
IRGC claims fresh attacks on US sites
11:28 , James ReynoldsIran’s IRGC has claimed responsibility for fresh attacks on Al-Adiri base in Kuwait and an observation tower belonging to the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain
How higher oil prices will hit your wallet
11:10 , James ReynoldsConsumers are bracing for further financial strain as global oil prices surged past $100 a barrel on Thursday, driven by renewed fighting and military strikes in the Middle East that have disrupted international oil supplies. This latest spike follows a period of brief relief in June when hostilities between the U.S. and Iran had temporarily eased.
The benchmark Brent crude, an international standard, had last reached the $100 mark in May. The current escalation means that the economic pressures felt by households since the onset of the Iran war are set to intensify.
Businesses across various sectors, including fresh food producers, school supply vendors, and shipping companies, have already reported increased operational costs from earlier energy price hikes after the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran. These rising expenses are now likely to be passed on to consumers, impacting everyday goods.
Here’s how higher oil prices will hit your wallet:
From gas to grocery aisles: How higher oil prices will hit your wallet
Watch: Trump says Iran war 'going extremely well' but warns regime has 'evil intentions'
10:40 , James ReynoldsICYMI: UK ready to shoot down Iranian missiles after Tehran threatens RAF base
10:10 , James ReynoldsBritain's armed forces are ready to protect the country from any attack from Iranian missiles, the government said on Thursday.
It follows a warning from Iran's Revolutionary Guards over the UK allowing US bombers to fly from its bases.
"Our Armed Forces are ready to keep the United Kingdom safe from any kind of attacks, whether it's on our soil or from abroad. The UK stands ready 24/7 to defend itself," a government spokesperson said.
Read the full story:
UK ready to shoot down Iranian missiles after Tehran threatens RAF base
Pentagon reduced death count from Iran war to match Trump timeline: report
09:40 , James ReynoldsIn the last two days, the Pentagon reportedly reduced the announced U.S. service member death toll in the Iran war from 18 to 14.
Three military officials told The New York Times that the revision was in part because the most recent four deaths — three in Jordan and one in Iraq — came after President Trump declared an initial ceasefire in April.
“The administration seems to have a real hard time being honest about what is going on — not just about casualties, but about the whole war in general,” retired Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges, who served in the first Trump administration, told the paper.
Pentagon reduced death count from Iran war to match Trump timeline: report
Hormuz tanker crossings slip to lowest in more than two months, data shows
09:10 , James ReynoldsThe number of tankers crossing the Strait of Hormuz fell to just one on Thursday, the lowest level since May 7, according to shiptracking data, amid ongoing shipping risks in the Middle East and as oil prices surged back to $100 a barrel. O/R
Only one tanker crossed the Strait of Hormuz on July 23, compared with three the day earlier, data from analytics firm Kpler showed.
Very large crude carrier New Giant, loaded with 2 million barrels of Iraqi Basrah crude, exited the strait on Thursday and is due to arrive at China's Rizhao port by mid-August.
No ships entered the Strait of Hormuz on July 23.
The U.S. military said late on Thursday that it had completed a 13th consecutive night of strikes on Iran.
Meanwhile, at the Bab el-Mandeb strait, commodity tanker crossings totalled 32 on July 23, up from 26 the day before, Kpler data showed.
Iran claims drone strikes on Kuwait
08:55 , James ReynoldsThe Iranian army says it has launched another wave of drone attacks against US military facilities in Kuwait.
Sirens are also sounding in Bahrain, according to the country’s interior ministry.
Watch: US military says it completed 13th night of strikes against Iran
08:40 , James ReynoldsThe latest: Trump in 'revenge mode' as war drags on - report
08:10 , James ReynoldsGood morning. If you are just joining us, here’s the latest:
- Donald Trump is increasingly frustrated that a war he thought would be over within weeks is dragging on with no end in sight, the WSJ reported, citing administration officials and people close to the US president.
- The outlet also reported that Trump is in “revenge mode” and believes Iran only understands force. It said the US was surging forces, medics and weaponry to the region to give more options if Washington chooses to escalate again.
- The US military said it had completed a 13th consecutive night of strikes on Iran in an effort to dislodge its hold on the Strait of Hormuz, while the Islamic Republic announced strikes on Jordan and sirens sounded in Bahrain.
- Trump announced that any damage done to ships by Iran would be compensated with frozen Iranian assets held by the US - a point of leverage earlier referenced in talks to end the war.
- The number of tankers crossing the Strait of Hormuz fell to just one on Thursday, the lowest level since 7 May. The very large crude carrier New Giant, loaded with 2 million barrels of Iraqi Basrah crude, exited the strait on Thursday and is due to arrive at China's Rizhao port by mid-August.
Trump says Iran war 'going extremely well' but warns regime has 'evil intentions'
07:50 , Stuti MishraQatar Airways suspends flights to Bahrain, Kuwait and Erbil until 31 July
07:30 , Stuti MishraQatar Airways has suspended passenger flights to Bahrain, Kuwait and Erbil until 31 July, the airline said in a statement on its website, as regional security tensions continue to affect air travel across the Gulf.
MAGA support for Trump’s Iran war plummets, poll finds: ‘Maximum level of frustration’
07:10 , James ReynoldsMAGA support for President Donald Trump's war against Iran has cratered over the past two months – with just 37 percent of his crumbling base now saying the conflict should continue even if it increases inflation, according to a new poll.
That's down from 50 percent since May, Politico said in a Wednesday report that came a day after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth sparred with Democrats during a fiery Senate hearing over the cost of the war.
A person close to the White House told Politico that it's "at a maximum level of frustration right now," with Trump "fully aware that the only way to the victory that he wants is completely politically impossible."
MAGA support for Trump’s Iran war plummets, poll finds: ‘Maximum frustration’
Iran claims attacks on US military bases in Jordan and Bahrain
06:51 , Stuti MishraIran's army has claimed attacks on US military facilities at Jordan's Al-Azraq base and Bahrain's Sheikh Isa air base, Iranian state media reported.
UN chief warns Middle East is 'getting out of control' and 'teetering on the edge of the unimaginable'
06:30 , Stuti MishraUN secretary general António Guterres has warned the Security Council that the Middle East conflict is "getting out of control".
"It is teetering on the edge of the unimaginable. The region is being pulled into an ever-widening circle of confrontation. One crisis feeds another. One escalation triggers the next," Mr Guterres told the Security Council.
Trump says he is close to decision on 'major military punishment' for Iran after Houthi tanker attacks
05:58 , Stuti MishraUS president Donald Trump has said he is considering re-launching major combat operations against Iran and is close to a decision, telling Axios that Tehran "hasn't received enough pain yet."
Mr Trump's warning came after Yemen's Houthi fighters struck two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, extending the Middle East war to a second major shipping chokepoint.
Mr Trump said he would hold Iran responsible for any further Houthi attacks, writing on social media: "If they do this again, the US will hold Iran responsible, in that the Houthis are a Surrogate and/or Proxy of Iran, and major military punishment will be inflicted upon Iran and, of course, the Houthis, themselves."
Sources in Iran and Yemen told Reuters that Iran had flown Revolutionary Guard commanders, military advisers and missile and drone-related equipment into Yemen days before the Houthis announced their Red Sea blockade. The Houthis dismissed the report.
In focus: Massive escalation or back to talks? The four options Trump has left on Iran
05:25 , James ReynoldsThe US is failing to wear down Iran with strikes around the Strait of Hormuz and making no progress to resolve the conflict through diplomacy. Here are Donald Trump’s apparent options:
Massive escalation or back to talks? The four options Trump has left on Iran
US surges forces and weapons to Middle East as Trump considers expanding Iran war
05:01 , Stuti MishraThe US is moving special operations forces, weapons and medics to the Middle East to give US president Donald Trump broader military options as he considers widening the conflict against Iran, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing officials.
In the past week, special operations forces have deployed to the region from US bases, according to flight-tracking data and officials.
Squadrons of jet fighters have been staged across the Middle East, and bomber aircraft at bases in the US and UK are on high alert, the Journal reported.
Tanker crossings in Strait of Hormuz fall to lowest level in more than two months
04:40 , Stuti MishraThe number of tankers crossing the Strait of Hormuz fell to just one on Thursday, the lowest since 7 May, as oil prices surged back to $100 a barrel, according to data from analytics firm Kpler.
Only the very large crude carrier New Giant, loaded with two million barrels of Iraqi Basrah crude, exited the strait on 23 July, bound for China's Rizhao port. No ships entered the waterway that day, down from three crossings the previous day.
The US military said late yesterday it had completed a 13th consecutive night of strikes on Iran.
At the Bab el-Mandeb strait, tanker crossings rose to 32 on 23 July from 26 the day before, Kpler data showed, though some vessels are already rerouting. A clean tanker loaded with naphtha bound for Asia has turned toward the Suez Canal exit rather than the typical Bab el-Mandeb route -- a detour that could make the voyage nearly three times as long. Saudi Aramco has also started offering crude cargoes loading at Egypt's Mediterranean port of Sidi Kerir as an alternative to its Red Sea ports.
Chinese oil tankers skirt Houthi Red Sea blockade
04:30 , Jane DaltonTwo Chinese supertankers carrying a combined 4 million barrels of Saudi Arabian oil exited the Red Sea via the Bab el-Mandeb strait on Thursday, shipping data showed, apparently escaping a blockade of Saudi oil by Yemen's Houthi militias.
It happened as Saudi vessels came under attack.
The Red Sea blockade by the Iran-aligned Houthis is worsening global energy supply disruption, coming at the same time the Strait of Hormuz is practically shut due to the resumption of fighting between the US and Iran.
UK 'ready to defend itself' after Iran criticises US using British bases
04:18 , Stuti MishraThe UK “stands ready 24/7 to defend itself”, the government has said, after Iran claimed Britain would “bear responsibility” for allowing the US to use British bases.
It comes after Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) accused the UK government of “complicity in the crime of aggression and war crimes” by allowing the US to carry out “unlawful attacks”.
While the government has refused to take part in offensive campaigns against Iran, it has allowed the US to launch defensive strikes from British bases hosting American personnel.
In a statement, the MFA said that anyone who supports “military aggression against Iran will bear responsibility for the consequences and repercussions of its decision”.
US president Donald Trump has carried out 13 consecutive nights of strikes against targets in Iran, indicating potential further escalation.
Analysis: White House press secretary's Iran claims should ring alarm bells
03:00 , Jane DaltonIf you listen closely to Karoline Leavitt, Trump’s scariest plans are being revealed
ICYMI: Iran 'flew IRGC commanders and missile gear to Yemen's Houthis'
01:30 , Jane DaltonIran flew Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commanders, military advisers and missile- and drone-related equipment into Yemen this month, according to four sources, in a move that suggests Tehran is seeking to strengthen the ability of its Houthi allies to threaten Red Sea shipping.
Four sources, two of them Iranian, Yemen's information minister and a regional security analyst, said Iran transferred the IRGC personnel and military-related equipment on a flight from Tehran to Yemen 10 days ago.
The two Iranian sources told Reuters that between 10 and 21 IRGC personnel, including senior commanders, were on the Mahan Air flight.
The plane was originally bound for the Houthi-controlled capital Sanaa, but diverted to the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah after the airport came under attack by the Saudi-backed Yemeni government.
"The IRGC commanders travelled there to support Houthi operations and provide training on new missile systems," one of the sources said, adding that Iran also sent gold on the aircraft to fund Houthi activities.
Trump warns damage to ships will be paid for by Iranian money
Friday 24 July 2026 00:44 , Rachel DobkinDonald Trump has warned Tehran that any damage to ships will be paid for by Iranian money that the US has in its possession.
“Please let this statement serve to represent, until further notice, that from this point forth, any and all damages done to Ships, Cargo, or anything related thereto, will be paid for by Iranian Money that the United States has in its possession, and controls.
“These damages may be very substantial but, nevertheless, this is the fair and equitable thing to do”, Trump wrote on Truth Social Thursday evening, Washington time.
The US has accused Iran of targeting civilian vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi rebels bombed two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea.
Oil prices jump to $100 a barrel after Red Sea attacks
Thursday 23 July 2026 23:59 , Jane Dalton
Oil prices jump to 100 dollars a barrel after Red Sea shipping attacks
US House votes to curb Trump's Iran war powers
Thursday 23 July 2026 23:00 , Jane DaltonThe Republican-led US House of Representatives backed a resolution on Thursday directing President Trump to halt military action against Iran unless he obtained Congress' approval, but the Senate voted hours later to block a separate, similar measure.
The House vote, the latest rebuke of Trump from Congress, was 214-208 in favour of the war powers resolution as four Republicans joined Democrats in voting for it.
But the Senate voted 49 to 47 to block its own war powers measure within hours of the House vote.
The House resolution was largely symbolic. Lawmakers have passed similar resolutions repeatedly in recent months.
The latest: Trump threatens ‘major military punishment’ on Iran after Houthis attack Saudi ships
Thursday 23 July 2026 22:00 , James ReynoldsDonald Trump has threatened a “major military punishment” against Iran after Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels bombed two Saudi oil tankers off the coast of Saudi Arabia.
The attacks threaten to further disrupt oil supply in a sign that the war is spreading across the region, as the Houthis warn they will cut off the Bab al-Mandab strait, one of the critical waterways through which oil flows.
“The U.S. will hold Iran responsible, in that the Houthis are a Surrogate and/or Proxy of Iran, and major military punishment will be inflicted upon Iran,” the US president wrote on Truth Social.
Trump also threatened punishment fore the Houthis, who he said he is “very disappointed with in that they have, until now, acted very professionally and smart”.
It comes as US secretary of state Marco Rubio has claimed Iran is “begging for a deal” amid escalating tensions across the Middle East, while warning that Tehran will face intensifying US strikes “every night until they come to their senses”.
The US military said it had carried out a 12th straight night of strikes against Iran in the early hours of Thursday, including the first use of B-1 long-range bombers in weeks.
Trump warns of Iran's 'evil intentions'
Thursday 23 July 2026 20:40 , Jane DaltonIran has evil intentions, US president Donald Trump has claimed, hinting he may step up military attacks on the country.
Repeating his insistence that the regime must not have a nuclear weapon, he said: “We’re doing very well against the Islamic Republic of Iran.”
He added: “They need more of the same. They're not ready yet. They got some evil intentions. We cannot let them have a nuclear weapon.”
Trump boasts of lower US death toll than in Vietnam
Thursday 23 July 2026 19:58 , Jane DaltonDonald Trump has boasted that the death toll in Iran of 18 Americans is much lower than the numbers killed in Vietnam and Afghanistan, where thousands were killed.
“One is too many,” he said, “but it's 18, whereas in Vietnam we lost 200,000, we lost thosuands and thousands in Afghanistan, we lost thousands in every war, the Korean War, thousands, and these wars all lasted for years.”
Insisting the US could not let Iran have nuclear weapons, he said: “We're doing very well against the Islamic Republic of Iran. We're doing extremely well.”
Watch: US carries out 12th straight night of strikes as Iran-backed Houthi rebels bomb two Saudi oil tankers
Thursday 23 July 2026 19:00 , James ReynoldsTrump says Saudi Arabia must recognise Israel for nuclear deal to go ahead
Thursday 23 July 2026 18:30 , Jane DaltonTrump says Saudi Arabia must recognise Israel for nuclear deal to go ahead
ICYMI: Iran flew IRGC commanders, missile gear to Yemen's Houthis
Thursday 23 July 2026 18:00 , James ReynoldsIran flew Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commanders, military advisers and missile- and drone-related equipment into Yemen this month, according to four sources, in a move that suggests Tehran is seeking to strengthen the ability of its Houthi allies to threaten Red Sea shipping.
Four sources familiar with the matter, including two Iranian sources, Yemen's information minister and a regional security analyst, said Iran transferred the IRGC personnel and military-related equipment on a flight from Tehran to Yemen on July 13, a development that has not been previously reported.
The two Iranian sources told Reuters that between 10 and 21 IRGC personnel, including senior commanders, were on the Mahan Air flight.
The plane was originally bound for the Houthi-controlled capital Sanaa, but diverted to the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah after the airport came under attack by the Saudi-backed Yemeni government.
"The IRGC commanders travelled there to support Houthi operations and provide training on new missile systems," one of the sources said, adding that Iran also sent gold on the aircraft to fund Houthi activities.
