What to know about the Iran war today:
The U.S. has launched an eighth straight night of strikes on Iran at the direction of President Trump, U.S. Central Command announced Saturday night.It comes after two U.S. service members were killed when Iran attacked a military base in Jordan the previous night, according to U.S. Central Command. Another soldier was missing in action at the base. There were also a handful of injuries, four serious, the military said.Iran’s Revolutionary Guards had claimed a new series of strikes targeting U.S. military facilities across the Middle East on Friday, alleging attacks on sites in Syria, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain and Jordan. The U.S. military denied those claims Friday.
U.S. launches new strikes on Iran after attack on Jordan base kills 2 U.S. soldiers
U.S. forces have launched a fresh round of strikes on Iran after an Iranian attack on a Jordanian military base killed at least two U.S. soldiers.
At the direction of President Trump, U.S. forces “began launching new airstrikes against Iran,” U.S. Central Command said in a social media post. The strikes got underway at 6 p.m. ET Saturday.
“The strikes are designed to further degrade Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and swiftly punish Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces who launched attacks against American service members in Jordan last night,” CENTCOM said.
This marks the eighth straight night of strikes on Iran since ceasefire talks broke down.
State Department issues new travel advisory, tells Americans worldwide to “exercise increased caution”
The State Department on Saturday issued a new travel advisory to Americans across the globe, telling them to “exercise increased caution” due to the war in the Middle East.
“We remind Americans in the region of the continued need for caution and encourage them to monitor the news for breaking developments,” the advisory said. “The Department of State advises Americans worldwide, and especially in the Middle East, to exercise increased caution. Americans abroad should follow the guidance in security alerts issued by the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.”
The agency warned of flight interruptions and said that U.S. diplomatic facilities have been targeted, including those outside the Middle East, but didn’t provide specific details.
“Groups supportive of Iran may target other U.S. interests overseas or locations associated with the United States and/or Americans throughout the world,” the advisory said.
Hegseth reacts to U.S. service member fatalities in Iran strikes: “Godspeed, heroes”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reacted to the deaths of two U.S. service members in Jordan following Iranian strikes overnight, saying Saturday in a social media post, “Godspeed, heroes.”
“Their sacrifice only stiffens our resolve,” Hegseth said on X.
Israel takes out Hezbollah drone unit in southern Lebanon, IDF says
The Israeli military launched a strike against a Hezbollah drone unit in southern Lebanon on Saturday, according to the Israel Defense Forces.
A drone was spotted in the area of Tebnit, outside the major southern city of Nabatieh, and determined to belong to Hezbollah.
“Following the identification, the Israeli Air Force conducted searches in the area and identified a Hezbollah terrorist cell that had been operating drones and taking cover near the Security Zone and IDF soldiers,” the Israeli military said in a statement.
“Shortly after, the IDF struck the terrorists in order to remove the threat posed to the IDF soldiers operating nearby,” it continued.
Despite a ceasefire, Israel has continued to strike Hezbollah forces in southern Lebanon it has deemed a risk to troops. Hezbollah has recently rejected multiple ceasefire deals negotiated between Lebanon and Israel, while they were not a party to the talks.
Hezbollah has increasingly targeted Israeli forces with drones over the last several months, many using fiber optic cables that prevent them from crashing after being jammed by Israeli forces.
2 U.S. service members killed in Iran’s strike on Jordan, another missing in action, U.S. military says
Two U.S. service members were killed in a strike on a base in Jordan overnight, according to U.S. Central Command.
A third service member is missing in action, CENTCOM said.
Four other U.S. service members were medically evacuated to hospital in Jordan, and have since been discharged. There were other service members treated for minor injuries, CENTCOM said.
The deaths were the 15th and 16th among U.S. service members in the current war with Iran. Six service members were killed in an Iranian attack on a base in Kuwait in March. Also in March, six were killed when a refueling plane crashed in Iraq and one was killed in an Iranian strike on the Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia.
In the most recent death, a U.S. Navy pilot died when his MH-60S helicopter made an emergency landing at sea last month.
Iran will deliver “unforgettable lessons” to U.S., new ayatollah says
Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei called President Trump’s signature “utterly worthless and devoid of credibility” and warned of “unforgettable lessons” if the U.S. continues its attacks.
“Now that the American enemy is seeking to escalate the conflict thereby incurring even heavier costs and further humiliation, it should know that the noble nation of Iran and the Resistance Front have unforgettable lessons in store for it,” Khamenei said in a statement.
Mojtaba Khamenei is the son of the former ayatollah, Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a massive strike by the U.S. and Israel on the first day of the war. Mojtaba Khamenei still has not been seen in public since the war began. He was reportedly seriously injured in the same strike that killed his father and several other family members.
“The repeated breaches of the agreement by the Great Satan [the US] regarding the MOU signed by the Presidents of Iran and the US have once again laid bare a fundamental truth: the signature of the US President is utterly worthless and devoid of credibility,” Khamenei said in the statement, which was read by a spokesperson on Iranian state TV.
It was not clear what the ayatollah was referring to by teaching the U.S. “unforgettable lessons,” but its military is greatly diminished by American strikes. It has resorted to strikes on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, effectively shutting down the major oil artery, and drone and missile strikes on U.S. allies in the Middle East.
The new supreme leader last released a statement a week ago, July 11, when the U.S. began intense strikes again on Iran and Mr. Trump said the MOU was dead.
Kuwait brings fires from Iran strikes under control
Some seven hours after being struck by Iran in retaliation for U.S. attacks, firefighters have gotten several fires under control, according to the Kuwait Fire Force.
, the Iranian ambassador to Pakistan, which was the key mediator in the negotiating process, made similar comments as Gharibabadi on Saturday.
“[The] US interpreted MOU contrary to its terms and gained control over parts of Strait Hormuz to obtain what it couldn’t in the battlefield,” Moghadam said on X. “It was obvious that the Iranian side would not accept this arbitrary interpretation which blatantly violated the MOU.”
“Now, the US has started a war contrary to the terms of MOU and international principles destroying the infrastructures,” he added. “The international community is expected to strongly condemn this aggressive and reckless act.”
U.S.-aligned Gulf Cooperation Council leader accuses Iran of “war crimes”
Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, the secretary general of the Gulf Cooperation Council, has condemned Iranian attacks on members of the group, referring to them as “war crimes.”
“Iran’s actions constitute a highly dangerous escalation, a grave violation of international law and the United Nations (UN) Charter, as well as war crimes requiring international accountability and prosecution, given the deliberate targeting of infrastructure and civilian facilities in flagrant violation of all international norms and conventions, and a persistent determination to destabilise regional security and stability,” Albudaiwi said in a statement Saturday.
The GCC is comprised of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. All six countries are allies of the U.S., with Secretary of State Marco Rubio attending a meeting of the countries several weeks ago.
Iran has targeted all six countries at various times throughout the war in retaliation for strikes by the U.S. and Israel. Kuwait, especially, came under strong fire from Iran overnight. Albudaiwi offered his support to Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan, which came under attack overnight, while “expressing his wishes for a speedy recovery to the injured individuals in the State of Kuwait.”
Lebanese president leaves for U.S. summit on same day soldier dies in explosion
President Joseph Aoun left for the U.S. on Saturday, along with first lady Nehmat Aoun, to hold a summit with President Trump on the conflict between Israel and the Lebanon-based, Iran-backed Hezbollah militia.
“A Lebanese-U.S. summit will be held at the White House,” according to a readout from the president’s office. “President Aoun is also scheduled to hold meetings and consultations with a number of U.S. officials to discuss the situation in Lebanon and ways to consolidate the ceasefire, restore security and stability across the country, particularly in the south, secure Israel’s withdrawal from the Lebanese territories it occupies, and extend the authority of the Lebanese state over all parts of the country.”
Mr. Trump, who has repeatedly praised Aoun, previously invited him for a meeting at the White House, which will take place on July 21.
Aoun’s departure came on the same day a Lebanese soldier was killed and two others injured when a device exploded near an army vehicle in the town of Al-Mansouri in southern Lebanon, according to the Lebanese army. It’s not clear who placed the “suspicious object,” as described by the army.
The Lebanese army is supposed to move into southern Lebanon to provide security once Israel exits the security zone, though Israel has said they will not leave until Hezbollah disarms and is eliminated from the territory, which does not seem to be in the near future.
At least 33 Lebanese soldiers have died since Israel began expanded operations in the southern part of the country on March 2, according to a July 15 release by the U.N. Security Council.
Kuwaiti foreign minister talks to Pakistani mediators after night of attacks
After a night of serious and damaging Iranian attacks on Kuwait, Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah spoke to his Pakistani counterpart, Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, on Saturday.
Pakistan has played an important role in peace negotiations between the U.S. and Iran, including the two ceasefires negotiated in April and June. Dar has been a key member of those negotiations.
“The two ministers discussed the latest regional developments, particularly the ongoing escalation and its repercussions, as well as efforts to reduce tensions, contain the crisis, and advance diplomatic solutions aimed at preserving regional security and stability,” according to a readout from the Kuwaiti Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Kuwait intercepted some missiles and drones early Saturday, but Iranian strikes also caused damage to a desalination plant and other pieces of infrastructure.
50 killed, over 500 injured in Iran by U.S. strikes, health ministry says
The death toll from June 27 to July 18 due to U.S. strikes in Iran has grown to 50, with more than 500 injured as well, according to Hossein Kermanpour, a spokesperson for the Iranian health ministry.
Five women and two children were among the dead, he said, while 32 women and 18 children have been injured. Thirty-seven people remain hospitalized, Kermanpour added.
The U.S. finished a seventh straight night of strikes on Saturday. Most of those strikes have come in the southern part of the country.
Kuwait reports strikes on water desalination plant, civilian infrastructure
Kuwait said Saturday it intercepted Iranian missiles and drones and that a water desalination plant was struck, causing a fire, the second such attack in two days in the tiny desert nation, which depends on desalination for 90% of its drinking water.
Several firefighters and a worker were injured while battling two other blazes sparked by Iranian strikes, according to the Kuwait Fire Force.
Kuwait also reported attacks on an oil facility. The country’s foreign ministry accused Iran of targeting civilian sites and other key infrastructure.
“The repeated targeting of these vital facilities reveals a systematic hostile approach targeting civilian sites and vital infrastructure that endangers the lives and safety of civilians,” the foreign ministry said.
Kuwait briefly closed its airspace in the morning due to missile threats, and Kuwait Airways said it was rescheduling most flights to and from the capital.
Iraq said it shot down attack drones over the city of Irbil. Jordan’s state-run Petra news agency said that the kingdom’s air defense systems had downed Iranian missiles, while air sirens sounded multiple times in Bahrain, according to the government.
Jordan says it shot down 10 Iranian missiles
Jordan’s army said early Saturday local time that it had shot down 10 Iranian missiles with no casualties or damage.
“Air defense systems … intercepted 10 Iranian missiles that had entered Jordanian airspace and were targeting the Kingdom’s territory (which) were intercepted and shot down,” the army said in a statement.
Credit: Yahoo News