The US has launched fresh airstrikes on Iran after two American service members were killed in an Iranian drone and missile attack on a base in Jordan.
US Central Command said the operation late on Saturday was intended to “swiftly punish” the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Donald Trump described the deaths of the service members as “a very sad thing”, saying the troops had died “in service of our country”. He added that Washington remained committed to “never allowing Iran to have a nuclear weapon”.
Iran earlier said it was suspending its commitments under an initial peace agreement with the US, accusing Washington of violating the deal through its continued military campaign.
In a statement attributed to Mojtaba Khamenei and broadcast on state television, Iran’s supreme leader declared Trump’s signature on the accord “worthless and invalid” and warned the US of “unforgettable lessons” if it continued attacking the Islamic Republic.
Read MoreUS launches Hellfire missiles at tanker headed for Iran’s Kharg Island
Iran targeted by more US strikes while White House says sides are talking
Key Points
- US begins new airstrikes on Iran
- Two US service members killed by Iranian attacks in Jordan, military says
- Trump calls deaths of US troops in Jordan 'a very sad thing'
- Iran supreme leader: Trump signature on deal 'worthless'
- US government urges American travellers to 'exercise increased caution'
- Iran 'no longer' adhering to interim deal with US, negotiator says
Starving and stranded in a war zone: The sailors living in fear of death in the Strait of Hormuz
07:00 , Shahana Yasmin“Our ship has safely crossed,” Herambh Karmarkar wrote in a message to his family as his vessel left the Strait of Hormuz.
It was the last text that the 30-year-old marine engineer would ever send. Hours later, he was killed in an Iranian strike on his ship, the Cyprus-flagged GFS Galaxy,as it passed by the coast of Oman on Sunday.
For days he had been reported missing, but on Wednesday his family in India received the news they had been dreading.
Maira Butt reports:
The sailors living in fear of death in the Strait of Hormuz
IRGC commander says strikes will continue until Hormuz is secure
06:45 , Shahana YasminA senior commander in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has vowed to continue attacks until security is restored along the country's southern coast and the Strait of Hormuz.
Commander of the IRGC Aerospace Force Brig Gen Majid Mousavi said, according to a report by Iran’s Tasnim news agency: “Our effective and precisely targeted strikes from across Iran against the enemy will continue until calm returns to the southern coastline and the Strait of Hormuz.”
EU and Gulf states urge Iran to keep Strait of Hormuz open
06:30 , Shahana YasminThe European Union and Gulf states have jointly called on Iran to immediately and unconditionally halt attacks and interference with maritime navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
In a joint statement reported by Saudi state television, the countries also urged Tehran to keep the strategic waterway open without conditions or fees, amid growing concerns over disruption to global shipping and energy supplies.
The Strait of Hormuz handles around one-fifth of the world's oil supply and has become a central flashpoint in the conflict between the US and Iran.
Saudi Arabia issues shelter alerts after apparent Iranian missile attack
06:15 , Shahana YasminSaudi Arabia activated its early warning system on Saturday, urging residents in the cities of Al-Kharj and Yanbu to seek shelter after what two people familiar with the matter described as an Iranian missile attack.
Al-Kharj, east of Riyadh, is home to a military base that hosts US troops, while Yanbu, on the Red Sea coast, is a key oil export terminal.
ICYMI: Two US service members killed by Iranian attacks in Jordan, military says
06:00 , Shahana YasminAt least two US service members were killed in action while defending against Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks in Jordan, marking the first American deaths in the aftermath of a tenuous ceasefire agreement earlier this year, according to US Central Command.
Two US service members killed by Iranian attacks in Jordan, military says
In pictures: US airstrikes on Iran
05:45 , Shahana Yasmin
US says naval blockade has redirected five ships
05:30 , Shahana YasminThe US military says it has redirected five vessels and disabled another as part of a renewed naval blockade aimed at disrupting Iran’s oil exports.
US Central Command said the blockade, reimposed in the past week, is designed to halt shipments of Iranian crude oil. It added that the guided missile destroyer USS Donald Cook was continuing blockade operations in the Arabian Sea.
Washington has continued to target Iranian infrastructure linked to operations around the Strait of Hormuz, where shipping has been severely disrupted since the start of the war.
US issues worldwide travel caution amid Iran conflict
05:15 , Shahana YasminThe US has issued a worldwide travel caution, advising Americans to “exercise increased caution” as the conflict with Iran raises the risk of attacks on US interests overseas.
The State Department said Americans abroad, “especially in the Middle East”, should follow security guidance from the nearest US embassy or consulate, warning that periodic airspace closures could disrupt travel.
It also said US diplomatic facilities, including those outside the region, “have been targeted” and warned that groups supportive of Iran “may target other US interests overseas or locations associated with the United States and/or Americans throughout the world”.
US completes eighth consecutive night of strikes on Iran
05:10 , Shahana YasminThe US military has completed its eighth consecutive night of strikes targeting military sites in Iran, as Washington intensified its campaign against Tehran.
US Central Command (Centcom) said it struck Iranian “military coastal surveillance and air defence facilities, maritime capabilities, and missile and drone storage sites” to continue “degrading Iranian military capabilities”.
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) July 19, 2026
American forces also targeted Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps personnel that Centcom said had launched the 17 July attack on US service members in Jordan, in which two American troops were killed.
In a statement, Centcom said more than 50,000 US military personnel remain deployed across the Middle East and are “highly vigilant, focused, lethal, and ready”.
Iran’s supreme leader warns US of ‘unforgettable lessons’
04:45 , Shahana YasminIran’s supreme leader has warned the US that it will face “unforgettable lessons” if it continues its military campaign against the Islamic Republic.
In remarks broadcast on Iranian state television and attributed to Mojtaba Khamenei, the supreme leader also described president Donald Trump’s signature as “worthless and invalid”.
Khamenei said any response would come not only from Iran but also from its regional allies, referring to the so-called “Axis of Resistance”, signalling that Tehran could draw on proxy groups across the Middle East as the conflict intensifies.
Iran says it is no longer bound by interim US agreement
04:35 , Shahana YasminIran has announced that it is suspending its commitments under an interim agreement with the United States, accusing Washington of violating the deal through its continued military campaign.
Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran’s deputy foreign minister, told state television that Tehran was “no longer implementing” the agreement, which had been signed about a month ago in an effort to permanently end the fighting.
Asked about Iran’s decision, Donald Trump dismissed the move, telling NewsNation he “couldn't care less”. He added that Washington remained focused on “never allowing Iran to have a nuclear weapon”.
US strikes reported near Shadegan and on Qeshm Island
04:25 , Shahana YasminFresh US airstrikes have hit areas near the southwestern Iranian city of Shadegan and on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iranian officials and state media.
Khuzestan’s deputy governor for security, quoted by Tasnim news agency, said emergency teams had been deployed near Shadegan and that further information on the extent of the damage would be released later.
On Qeshm Island, Tasnim reported that at least two explosions were heard after another round of US attacks. Emergency, security and operational teams were sent to assess the locations struck and determine whether there were any casualties or damage.
Trump calls deaths of US troops in Jordan 'a very sad thing'
04:10 , Shahana YasminUS president Donald Trump described the deaths of two American service members in Jordan as “a very sad thing” after they were killed while defending against Iranian missile and drone attacks.
Trump told NewsNation that the troops had died “in service of our country” and repeated that the conflict’s central objective was “never allowing Iran to have a nuclear weapon”.
On Iran’s announcement that it would no longer abide by a US-Iran memorandum of understanding, Trump replied: “I couldn't care less.”
US launches fresh strikes on Iran after deaths of 2 service members
04:00 , Shahana YasminThe US military launched a new wave of airstrikes on Iran on Sunday, saying the attacks were intended to “swiftly punish” the country's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) after an Iranian drone and missile attack on a base in Jordan killed two American service members, left another missing and wounded four others.
US Central Command said the strikes were aimed at further degrading Iran’s ability to disrupt shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, where Tehran has stepped up maritime operations in recent days.
The US confirmed its first troop deaths from direct Iranian fire since the opening days of the war. Since the conflict began, 16 US service members have been killed and more than 430 wounded, according to the Pentagon.
UAE calls for 'utmost restraint' as it seeks to de-escalate US-Iran conflict
03:45 , Holly BancroftThe United Arab Emirates has called for “the utmost restraint” and expressed “deep concern” over the escalation of conflict between the US and Iran.
In a statement on Saturday, the UAE’s ministry of foreign affairs “called for an immediate end to hostilities and a swift return to negotiations and stressed the importance of ensuring safe, uninterrupted navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, calling it vital to the global economy.”
Qatar condemns Iran attacks on Jordan, Bahrain and Kuwait
03:26 , Holly BancroftQatar’s ministry of foreign affairs has condemned Iran’s attacks on Jordan, Bahrain and Kuwait, saying they are “a flagrant violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the targeted countries and a blatant breach of international law”.
In a post of social media platform X, the ministry of foreign affairs said that the “targeting [of] electricity and water desalination plants in the State of Kuwait crosses all red lines”.
Qatar warned that the latest strikes were a “dangerous escalation” that would undermine peace efforts.
Statement | Qatar Strongly Condemns Iran's Repeated Attacks on Jordan, Bahrain and Kuwait
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Qatar (@MofaQatar_EN) July 18, 2026
Doha | July 18, 2026
The State of Qatar condemns in the strongest terms the renewed attacks launched by the Islamic Republic of Iran against the territories of the Hashemite Kingdom of… pic.twitter.com/c5szuiCVq7
Photos show smoke billowing from oil facility in Kuwait
02:22 , Holly BancroftThe most significant damage from Iranian strikes on Saturday occurred in Kuwait, where a water desalination plant and an oil facility were hit, according to the Kuwait authorities and the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation. Both declined to provide locations.
Photos shared through Reuters showed smoke billowing near an oil facility in Ahmadi Governorate, and near the oil facility in Mangaf, Kuwait. The strikes injured several people at the oil facility and caused a fire at the desalination plant, forcing several power generation units offline. It was the second attack against a desalination plant in two days in the tiny desert nation that depends on desalination for 90 per cent of its drinking water.
Oil prices climb to their highest level in more than a month on Friday
01:25 , Holly BancroftOil prices rose more than 4 per cent on Friday to their highest level in more than a month after resumed strikes between the US and Iran.
On Friday, the US said that it would enforce a naval blockade while Iran said it targeted vessels that violated its rules on navigating the Strait of Hormuz, the vital waterway for one-fifth of the world’s oil supply.
A power generation and water desalination plant in Kuwait was hit in an Iranian attack, the country's Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy Ministry said in a statement. It was the second attack on Kuwaiti water desalination sites in two days.
Kuwait's Foreign Ministry said Iran's targeting of vital infrastructure endangered civilians and violated international law, adding it held Tehran fully responsible for the attacks.
Recap: Iran 'suspends' interim deal with US
Sunday 19 July 2026 00:28 , Holly BancroftIran has said the US has “violated and suspended all of its commitments” within the interim deal agreed in Pakistan.
In comments reported by Fars news agency on Saturday, deputy foreign minister Kazem Gharibabadi said that, as a result, Tehran has “likewise suspended all our own commitments” agreed in the US memorandum.
Mr Gharibabadi said Iran was now “busy defending the country”.
US begins new airstrikes on Iran
Saturday 18 July 2026 23:31 , Holly BancroftThe US has begun launching new airstrikes against Iran, US Central Command has said.
The strikes, which began at 6pm ET on Saturday, were “designed to further degrade Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and swiftly punish IRGC forces who launched attacks against American service members in Jordan last night”, CenCom said in a statement.
Iran's Homozgan province hit by US strikes, Iranian media report
Saturday 18 July 2026 23:21 , Holly BancroftIran’s southern province of Homozgan was hit by three US airstrikes on Saturday, according to local media.
It came as the US and Iran traded air strikes aimed at infrastructure and military targets.
An Iranian negotiator has said that Tehran had suspended its commitments under the interim deal with the US in response to US attacks.
Iran attacked Washington’s Gulf allies on Saturday, with Kuwait reporting fires at oil facilities.
Donald Trump reportedly tells NewsNation he 'couldn't care less' about Iran deal breach
Saturday 18 July 2026 22:43 , Holly BancroftUS president Donald Trump has reportedly told NewsNation that he “couldn’t care less” that Iran has said they are no longer adhering to the memorandum of understanding agreed with America.
In a call with NewsNation reporter Hannah Brandt, Mr Trump told her that the deaths of two US service personnel in Jordan were “very sad, it’s a very sad thing”.
He reportedly added: “We hate to see it happen. It’s in service to our country”.
US government urges American travellers to 'exercise increased caution'
Saturday 18 July 2026 22:03 , Holly BancroftThe US government has issued a warning to Americans abroad to “exercise increased caution” due to the renewed conflict with Iran.
In a post on X, the US department of state for consular affairs said on Saturday that Americans “worldwide, and especially in the Middle East” should be on alert.
They added: “Americans abroad should follow the guidance in security alerts issued by the nearest US embassy or consulate. Flight cancellations and periodic airspace closures may cause travel disruptions.
“US diplomatic facilities, including outside the Middle East, have been targeted. Groups supportive of Iran may target other US interests overseas or locations associated with the United States and/ or Americans throughout the world.”
Recap: US and Iran exchange strikes as they struggle over Strait of Hormuz
Saturday 18 July 2026 21:27 , Holly BancroftThe United States and Iran exchanged strikes aimed at infrastructure and military targets on Saturday as their battle over the Strait of Hormuz intensified.
The region has endured days of back-and-forth attacks in a conflict increasingly focused on control of the strait. The collapse of an interim ceasefire leaves no clear end in sight for the war that the US and Israel began more than four months ago.
The US Central Command said early Saturday that its seventh straight night of strikes had hit “surveillance sites, military logistics infrastructure, underground weapons storage, and maritime capabilities.”
Read more here:
US and Iran exchange strikes as they struggle over Strait of Hormuz
'Godspeed, heroes': US defence secretary comments on personnel deaths
Saturday 18 July 2026 20:43 , Holly BancroftUS defence secretary Pete Hegseth has commented on the news that two service members have been killed in action in Jordan, writing on social media platform X: “Godspeed, heroes”.
Godspeed, heroes.
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) July 18, 2026
Their sacrifice only stiffens our resolve. https://t.co/GIcfNdAol0
Iran 'no longer' adhering to interim deal with US, negotiator says
Saturday 18 July 2026 20:18 , Holly BancroftAn Iranian negotiator has said that Tehran has suspended its commitments under their interim deal with the US.
The US and Iran exchanged strikes on Saturday aimed at infrastructure and military targets. The widening strikes threatened civilians and services to them, including desalination for drinking water, while the global economy again was on alert.
The US has violated its commitments under the deal that was signed about a month ago and now Iran is "no longer implementing them," Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran's deputy foreign minister, told state TV. There was no new word on mediation efforts.
Two US service members killed: US Central Command statement in full
Saturday 18 July 2026 19:05 , Holly BancroftTwo US service members have been killed in action in Jordan and one more is missing, US Central Command has said.
Here is their statement in full:
CENTCOM Statement on Recently Fallen, Missing U.S. Service Members
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) July 18, 2026
TAMPA, Fla. — On July 17, two U.S. service members in Jordan were killed in action as U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) and partner forces defended against Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks. Additionally,…
Breaking: Two US service members killed by Iranian attacks in Jordan, military says
Saturday 18 July 2026 18:39 , Holly BancroftAt least two US service members were killed in action while defending against Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks in Jordan, according to US Central Command.
Another service member is missing after Friday’s attacks, according to the Department of Defence.
Four American service members were medically evacuated to Jordanian hospitals and have since been discharged, Central Command announced Saturday.
Read the developing story here:
Two US service members killed by Iranian attacks in Jordan, military says
In full: Iran's supreme leader issues new message for US
Saturday 18 July 2026 18:21 , Holly BancroftIran's supreme leader warned of "unforgettable lessons" Saturday if the United States keeps attacking the Islamic Republic and called President Donald Trump's signature "worthless and invalid."
The comments came hours after a negotiator said Tehran was suspending its commitments to the interim deal signed about a month ago.
The statement attributed to Mojtaba Khamenei, still unseen since the war began, was read out on state television after the United States and Iran again exchanged strikes aimed at infrastructure and military targets.Tehran's declarations snapped another fragile thread as the war shows no end in sight.
The deal was aimed at permanently ending the fighting. Now Khamenei warns of "lessons" not only from Iran but its armed proxies in the region, calling them the "Axis of Resistance."
Iran's supreme leader: Iran has 'unforgettable lessons' for US
Saturday 18 July 2026 17:45 , Holly BancroftIran’s supreme leader has issued a written statement after strikes between Iran and US resumed on Saturday, warning America that the Iranian nation has “unforgettable lessons” for the US.
In a statement issued on behalf of Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, he said that US president Donald Trump’s signature on the memorandum of understanding was “worthless and invalid” and accused the US of repeatedly breaching the commitments of the temporary peace deal.
Iran says it has struck US military site in Kuwait and US planes in Bahrain
Saturday 18 July 2026 17:17 , Holly BancroftIran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Saturday that it had struck a US military support centre at Camp Arifjan, south of Kuwait City, and destroyed a radar facility at Ali Al Salem Air Base.
Iran has launched more attacks on Gulf states and Jordan after a seventh straight night of US strikes.
Kuwait's armed forces said they had intercepted Iranian ballistic missiles and drones early on Saturday, adding that a number of firefighters and oil sector workers had been injured while responding to the attacks.
"Since there is no international institution to prevent the savagery of the U.S. military, we have no path before us except the Quranic command: ‘Whoever attacks you, attack them in the same manner'," the IRGC said in a statement warning U.S. allies in the region to expect more strikes.
Iran's Health Ministry said that 50 people had been killed and more than 500 injured in U.S. strikes over the past three weeks, the semi-official ILNA news agency reported.
The IRGC targeted a site in Bahrain where US combat aircraft were gathered at Sheikh Isa Air Base and an intelligence data centre, Iranian state media reported.
The Guards said they had also destroyed at least two US fighter aircraft and three other aircraft during a missile and drone attack early on Saturday on the US base in Al Azraq, Jordan, according to Iranian state TV.
'Aggressive' Iranian approach 'cannot be tolerated or accepted,' Arab league says
Saturday 18 July 2026 16:15 , Nicole Wootton-CaneStrikes by Iran on Gulf nations are an “aggressive” approach and “cannot be tolerated or accepted,” the chief of the Arab League group of countries has said.
In a statement, Nabil Elaraby warned of the “repercussions” of the strikes, which targeted Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan overnight.
“The escalating pace of Iran's brazen attacks on Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq reflects an aggressive approach that cannot be tolerated or accepted,” he said in a statement.
Watch: US military strikes Iran for seventh night as Gulf tensions escalate
Saturday 18 July 2026 15:45 , Nicole Wootton-CaneThe three tiny islands in the crosshairs of the Iran war
Saturday 18 July 2026 15:15 , Nicole Wootton-CaneThree strategically vital islands at the mouth of the Persian Gulf have once again become a focal point in the escalating US military campaign against Iran.
Abu Musa, along with Greater and Lesser Tunb, were seized by Iran in 1971 from what would later become the United Arab Emirates. These rocky outposts now serve as a critical Iranian garrison, enabling Tehran to exert considerable influence over the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway through which a fifth of the world's oil and natural gas transits during peacetime.
Recent US strikes targeting two of these islands have reignited debate and speculation surrounding their future and their long-disputed ownership.
You can read more about the islands below:
Three tiny islands are once again in the crosshairs of the Iran war
Massive escalation or back to talks? The four options Trump has left on Iran
Saturday 18 July 2026 14:45 , Nicole Wootton-CaneThe US is failing to wear down Iran with strikes around the Strait of Hormuz and making no progress to resolve the conflict through diplomacy. James C. Reynolds reviews the options available to Trump.
Massive escalation or back to talks? The four options Trump has left on Iran
Recap: Vance tells Joe Rogan that some Israeli leaders want conflict with Iran to continue ‘indefinitely’
Saturday 18 July 2026 14:15 , Nicole Wootton-CaneElements within the Israeli government and society are pushing to needlessly prolong the Iran war and tank the Trump administration’s negotiations, Vice President JD Vance claims.
“I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that there have been people within the Israeli government who are trying to actually shift us away from that policy because they want to continue the military campaign,” Vance said on an episode of The Joe Rogan Experience released on Wednesday.
“There are some people within their system, we know beyond a shadow of a doubt, who are manipulating and trying to change American public opinion to keep the war going on indefinitely,” he added. “Again, not towards any objective, but just indefinitely.”
You can read more below:
Vance tells Joe Rogan some Israeli leaders want Iran war to go on ‘indefinitely’
Iran reportedly executes man accused of killing security agent during 2022 protests
Saturday 18 July 2026 13:45 , Nicole Wootton-CaneIran has reportedly 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.
Spain's World Cup winner Capdevila seeks Trump's help after US entry denial
Saturday 18 July 2026 13:15 , Nicole Wootton-CaneFormer Spain defender Joan Capdevila has appealed to President Donald Trump for help after he was reportedly denied permission to enter the United States for Sunday's World Cup final between Spain and defending champions Argentina.
Mr Capdevila, a member of Spain's 2010 World Cup-winning team, said his application was rejected because he played in an exhibition match featuring LaLiga stars in Iran in 2016. The 48-year-old tagged Trump in a social media post seeking help.
"They just told me that I can't travel to the final with my kids because my ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) has been denied," Capdevila wrote in a social media post. ESTA approval is required for visa-free travel to the US.
"Can anyone help me with this? You have no idea how excited I was to be there with all my 2010 teammates and this team to cheer them on.
"I can't believe they're not letting me into the USA... and that I'll miss a moment like this with my kids who love soccer so much."
Mr Capdevila also tagged Spain's sports ministry in the post and appealed to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio for assistance.
Kuwait condemns 'sinful' Iranian attacks
Saturday 18 July 2026 12:24 , Nicole Wootton-CaneKuwait’s defence spokesperson has condemned “sinful” Iranian strikes this morning.
Brigadier General Saud Al-Otaibi said the missiles had been “intercepted and dealt with” but hit out at strikes targeting military, security, and civilian facilities.
“The attacks affected facilities affiliated with the oil and electricity sectors, leading to outbreaks of fires and causing severe damage,” he added.
Kuwait Petroleum Corporation reports damage and injuries from Iranian attacks, state media says
Saturday 18 July 2026 11:15 , Nicole Wootton-CaneKuwait 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.
Kuwait says several firefighters injured after Iranian attacks
Saturday 18 July 2026 10:45 , Nicole Wootton-CaneKuwait has said several of its firefighters have sustained injuries tackling fires caused by Iranian strikes.
“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, according to Al Jazeera.
Iran claims strikes on Al Azraq air base in Jordan
Saturday 18 July 2026 09:15 , Nicole Wootton-CaneTehran says it has struck Al Azraq air base in Jordan.
It comes after Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed it had targeted US aircraft in Bahrain and a US “signals and communications centre” Kuwait following continued US strikes on Iran.
Why it's so difficult for the US to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz
Saturday 18 July 2026 09:00 , Shahana YasminPresident Donald Trump has been trying to force Iran to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz for months, turning to everything from airstrikes and naval blockades to negotiations and threats to destroy a “whole civilization.”
But restoring oil tanker traffic in the vital Middle East shipping corridor to prewar flows likely will require a much bigger armada of U.S. warships if not tens of thousands of American troops on Iranian soil, experts say. Despite on-and-off fighting, Iran can still target vessels in the narrow Persian Gulf waterway with drones and missiles that have been hidden in a country a third of the size of the continental United States.
Why it's so difficult for the US to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz
ICYMI: Here's where the US-Iran conflict stands
Saturday 18 July 2026 08:19 , Shahana Yasmin• The US carried out a seventh consecutive night of strikes on Iran, targeting military and logistical sites.
• Iran expanded its response beyond Israel, launching missiles and drones towards Gulf countries. Bahrain said it had “intercepted and destroyed a number of the treacherous Iranian aerial attacks”, while Kuwait said its air defences were responding to “hostile drone threats”. Saudi Arabia briefly issued alerts for Yanbu and Al-Kharj before saying the danger had passed.
• Kuwait Airways suspended flights until further notice, saying the decision was taken “due to the regional security situation and to ensure the safety of our passengers and crew”.
• Bahrain urged residents to avoid debris from the attacks, saying “the deliberate use of missiles and drones to target civilians and private property constitutes a blatant violation of international humanitarian law.”
• In southern Iran, officials said a US strike on a desalination plant in Jask county cut drinking water supplies to 20 villages with around 10,000 residents. Hamzeh Pour, chief executive of the Hormozgan Water and Wastewater Company, said the pumping station and a power transformer had been “completely destroyed”, leaving the area facing “a severe water shortage”.
Fire breaks out at Kuwait power and desalination plant after Iranian attack
Saturday 18 July 2026 07:20 , Shahana YasminA fire broke out at a power generation and water desalination plant after an Iranian attack, Kuwait's Ministry of Electricity said on Saturday, hours after authorities said the facility had been damaged in the latest wave of strikes.
The ministry said the blaze had broken out at the station following the attack but did not immediately identify the affected plant or provide details on casualties.
Earlier, it said the strike had damaged facilities and disrupted several electricity generation units.
Kuwait Airways reschedules flights after airspace closure
Saturday 18 July 2026 06:39 , Shahana YasminKuwait Airways said it had rescheduled most of its flights after take-off and landing operations at Kuwait International Airport were temporarily suspended.
In a statement posted on X, the airline said the disruption followed what it described as “hostile missile and drone attacks” after “criminal Iranian aggression” on Saturday.
It urged passengers to check for updates, saying notifications and text messages would be sent to the phone numbers linked to their bookings.
The airline said the changes had been made to prioritise the safety of travellers.
Iran claims strike on US military assets in Bahrain
Saturday 18 July 2026 06:25 , Shahana YasminIran’s military claimed it had targeted US military assets, including aircraft hangars and fuel tanks, during missile strikes on Bahrain.
Iran’s military said it struck the Sheikh Isa Air Base, alleging the facility had been used to launch operations against Iran, according to an Al Jazeera report.
It also claimed to have targeted communication bridges in Bahrain and said the attacks were carried out “in response to the crimes of global arrogance”.
Iran claims strikes on US military sites in Kuwait, warns Gulf states
Saturday 18 July 2026 06:10 , Shahana YasminIran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed it had targeted US military installations in Kuwait.
The IRGC also warned that countries hosting US forces should expect “corresponding responses” if their territory is used to launch attacks on Iran, according to the Tasnim news agency.
The Kuwaiti army said it was intercepting missiles and drones launched from Iran for the third time, urging people to “adhere to the authorities’ safety and security instructions”.
Iran claims to stop four vessels as US rejects tanker explosion report
Saturday 18 July 2026 05:40 , Shahana YasminIran's Revolutionary Guards said they stopped four vessels they accused of violating the country’s navigation rules in the Strait of Hormuz during a combined missile and drone operation.
Iranian state media also reported that two oil tankers exploded and caught fire after passing through what it described as a mined route south of the strait. The US military dismissed the report as false and said no such incident had taken place.
The Strait of Hormuz carries around a fifth of the world's oil supply, making it one of the most strategically important shipping routes.
Iran warns Gulf oil exports could be disrupted
Saturday 18 July 2026 05:23 , Shahana YasminIran's Revolutionary Guards have warned that oil and gas exports from the Gulf could be disrupted if US military operations continue.
State television quoted the Guards as saying that until US “aggression” comes to an end, it would not be possible to export chemical fertilisers or even a “single drop of oil and gas” from the region.
Washington earlier this week said it was enforcing a naval blockade around Iran, and Tehran announced fresh operations targeting maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday.
Kuwait says Iranian attack hit power and desalination station
Saturday 18 July 2026 05:15 , Shahana YasminKuwaiti authorities said an Iranian attack struck one of the country's power generation and water desalination stations on Saturday, causing damage, a fire and disrupting a number of electricity generation units.
Kuwait's armed forces said in a separate post on X that its air defence systems were responding to Iranian drone attacks.
Earlier, Bahrain activated air raid sirens and Saudi Arabia issued temporary public warnings as Iran renewed attacks on Gulf states hosting US military bases following another night of American strikes.
Kuwait intercepts drones as Bahrain and Saudi Arabia issue alerts
Saturday 18 July 2026 05:05 , Shahana YasminSeveral Gulf states issued public alerts early on Saturday as the conflict between the US and Iran continued to spill across the region, with Kuwait intercepting hostile drones and Bahrain and Saudi Arabia warning residents of potential threats.
The Kuwait Armed Forces said in a post on X, formerly Twitter, that its air defence systems were responding to “hostile drone threats”, adding that any explosions heard were the result of interceptors engaging incoming targets.
تتصدى حالياً الدفاعات الجوية الكويتية لهجمات صاروخية وطائرات مسيرة معادية ، إثر العدوان الإيراني الاثم.
— KUWAIT ARMY - الجيش الكويتي (@KuwaitArmyGHQ) July 18, 2026
تنوه رئاسة الأركان العامة للجيش أن أصوات الانفجارات إن سمعت فهي نتيجة اعتراض منظومات الدفاع الجوي للهجمات المعادية.
يرجى من الجميع التقيد بتعليمات الأمن والسلامة الصادرة عن… pic.twitter.com/6OcgqNmK0C
In separate posts on X, Bahrain’s interior ministry said air raid sirens had been activated and urged residents to seek shelter, while Saudi authorities briefly issued warnings for the Yanbu and Al-Kharj governorates before announcing that the danger had passed.
No casualties or material damage were immediately reported.
Deadlock in the Strait of Hormuz: Shipping traffic collapses in a week as US and Iran step up attacks
Friday 17 July 2026 21:00 , Maira ButtTraffic through the Strait of Hormuz has come to an almost complete standstill as the US and Iran exchanged strikes for a fourth night this week.
Fighting has broken out over a disagreement about an interim peace deal that proposed Iran manage shipping through the Strait of Hormuz along with Oman.
Renewed hostilities began last week after Tehran attacked three commercial vessels in Hormuz for reportedly bypassing Iranian-approved routes to take a shipping lane by the Omani coast instead.
The waters have become a battleground, sending oil prices rocketing once again after weeks of disruptions to global supply.
