Iran war latest news- July 18
- The US carried fresh airstrikes, targeting bridges, rail links, ports and transport infrastructure across Iran.
- Attacks reportedly damaged a railway station near the Bandar Abbas naval base and destroyed a control tower at Chabahar port on the Gulf of Oman.
- Iran’s state media also reported strikes on Bandar Abbas, Qeshm, Ahvaz, Lar, Darab and the outskirts of Yazd overnight.
- Explosions were heard in Sirik, a strategic port city on the Strait of Hormuz that hosts Iranian naval facilities.
- Fresh strikes also hit the Shahid Mirzaei Tunnel and at least two bridges in Hormozgan province, forcing the tunnel to close in both directions.
- Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused the US of killing civilians, including a child, in a bridge attack near Bandar Khamir.
- Trump has threatened to expand attacks to more civilian infrastructure unless Iran agrees to a deal, raising concerns over possible war crimes.
- Iran said it retaliated by targeting countries hosting US military facilities, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar.
- Iran’s navy claimed it carried out drone and missile operations against four ships attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz with US support.
- Brent crude rose about 1.5% to around $85-$86 per barrel as renewed fighting disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran says it has suspended commitments under Islamabad MoU amid US attacks
Iran has suspended its commitments under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) as US attacks continue, Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi was quoted as saying by Iran’s Fars news agency. Gharibabadi said the United States had “violated and suspended all its commitments” under the agreement, prompting Tehran to halt its own implementation of the MoU. He added that Iran was currently focused on “defending the country.”
Iran says US strikes disrupt telecom services in Hormozgan, 116 towers knocked out
Iranian officials said overnight US attacks disrupted telecommunications in parts of Hormozgan province, affecting Bandar Abbas and Hajiabad. According to Iran’s Tasnim news agency, Hormozgan’s chief of communications and information technology said 116 telecommunications towers were taken out of service. The official added that fixed-line, mobile and internet services were experiencing disruptions in parts of the province.
Bahrain sounds air raid sirens again, urges residents to seek shelter
Air raid warning sirens were activated across Bahrain for the sixth time in the past few hours as regional tensions remained high.
Lebanese soldier killed in blast involving army vehicle in south Lebanon
The Lebanese army said one soldier was killed after a “suspicious object” inside an army vehicle exploded in the town of al-Mansouri in the Tyre district of southern Lebanon, reported Al Jazeera.
Iran says US attacks killed 50, injured 500 over past three weeks
Iran’s Health Ministry spokesperson said US attacks over the past three weeks have killed 50 people and injured around 500 others.
IRGC warns US pressure on Iran could disrupt global energy, trade routes
A spokesperson for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has warned that US military and economic pressure on Tehran could have consequences beyond the region, affecting energy and economic sectors in the United States and Europe, reported Al Jazeera. Speaking to Iran’s Tasnim news agency, Hamid Reza Moghaddamfar described the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandeb as two strategic waterways capable of influencing global energy supplies, trade and regional security.
Iran says US attacked 95 locations in Khuzestan over 10 days
A senior Iranian official said that the US carried out attacks on at least 95 locations across Khuzestan province in southwestern Iran over the past 10 days. Valiollah Hayati, Khuzestan’s deputy governor for security affairs, told Iran’s Tasnim news agency that the strikes hit 12 counties in the province. He also said at least eight civilians were killed in the attacks.
Kuwait condemns ‘heinous’ Iranian attack, vows to defend its territory
Kuwait has condemned what it described as the “heinous Iranian aggression” against the country, accusing Tehran of repeatedly targeting vital civilian infrastructure, reported Al Jazeera.
US advises citizens against travel to Lebanon amid rising Middle East tensions
The US Embassy in Beirut has advised Americans not to travel to Lebanon and to reconsider travel to or through the Middle East, citing heightened regional tensions and the risk of further escalation. In a separate advisory, the US Embassy in Jerusalem urged US citizens not to travel to Gaza, northern Israel or the Egyptian border, except through the Taba crossing, due to the evolving security situation.
Kuwait says Iranian attack hits oil facility, injures several and causes damage
Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) said one of its vital oil sector facilities was hit in repeated Iranian attacks, leaving several people injured and causing significant material damage. The injured received medical treatment and the site was evacuated, KPC said in a statement carried by the state-run KUNA news agency. It added that authorities were coordinating the response to the attack with the relevant government agencies.
Kuwait Petroleum Corporation reports injuries in ‘repeated Iranian attacks’
Kuwait 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.
– via Reuters
Kuwait says one oil facility hit in Iranian attack
Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) said one of its oil facilities was hit in Iranian attack, Reuters reported citing state news agency.
Kuwait says one oil facility hit in Iranian attack
Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) said one of its oil facilities was hit in an Iranian attack, according to the state news agency.
US strikes hit Bushehr province; Iranian official says no casualties reported
US forces struck an area in Dashti county in Iran’s Bushehr province, according to Ehsan Jahanian, the province’s deputy governor for political and social affairs. Jahanian told Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency that the explosion caused no casualties. He added that another US attack was reported in Choghadak city.
US, Iran trade fresh strikes as Hormuz conflict escalates; Kuwait, Jordan intercept missiles
The US and Iran exchanged fresh strikes targeting military and infrastructure sites on Saturday as fighting over the Strait of Hormuz intensified. The US said it hit surveillance sites, weapons storage facilities and maritime capabilities, while Kuwait, Jordan and Iraq reported intercepting Iranian missiles and drones.
Iran said recent US attacks have killed dozens and wounded hundreds, while Washington acknowledged additional injuries among US service members. The renewed fighting comes after the collapse of an interim ceasefire, with oil prices remaining elevated as shipping through the Strait of Hormuz continues to decline.
Iraq signs new Chevron deals to expand oil fields, energy infrastructure
Iraq’s Oil Ministry has signed two supplemental agreements with US energy major Chevron to develop oil fields and expand the country’s energy infrastructure. The agreements are aimed at advancing upstream oil projects and strengthening Iraq’s energy sector amid heightened regional tensions.
First responders injured while combating blaze in Kuwait
According to a Reuters update citing the Kuwait fire force, firefighters and a worker have been injured while responding to fires after the Iranian attacks.
Kuwait says Iran has struck water desalination plant, second such attack in 2 days
Kuwait’s Ministry of Water and Electricity said on Saturday a water desalination and power generation plant was struck by Iran, sparking a blaze.
It was the second time in two days that Iran targeted a water desalination infrastructure in the Gulf Arab country. Kuwait said Iran had targeted a different power and desalination plant on Friday, sparking a fire and causing damage.
Kuwaiti authorities said several generating units were shut down as a precaution.
About 90 per cent of Kuwait’s drinking water comes from desalination, and the plants are a critical part of the desert nation’s infrastructure.
Kuwait airport disruption revives memories of earlier Gulf travel chaos
Kuwait Airways has begun rescheduling flights after the country’s airspace was closed following the latest escalation. The disruption echoes the February-April conflict, when repeated airspace closures across the Gulf left thousands of passengers stranded, with many forced to remain in transit for days or even weeks as flights were suspended.
Kuwait reports damage to power and water plant
Kuwait said an Iranian attack triggered a fire at part of a power generation and water desalination facility, forcing authorities to shut down several generating units as a precaution. Officials said emergency plans were activated immediately to keep electricity and water services running across the country.
Water crisis deepens after US strike on desalination plant
Iran said a US strike destroyed key equipment at the Bunji desalination plant in Jask County, cutting off drinking water to around 20 villages with a combined population of nearly 10,000. Local officials said the attack damaged both the seawater pumping station and a power transformer, leaving residents facing a severe water shortage.
Bahrain says it intercepted Iranian drones and missiles
Bahrain said its air defence systems intercepted and destroyed several Iranian drones and missiles targeting the kingdom. The country’s military said its forces remain on high alert and accused Iran of violating international humanitarian law by targeting civilians and private property.
‘Some 10,000 people across 20 Iranian villages’ without water after US attack: Report
According to an Al Jazeera report, US attacks in the early hours of Saturday. The strikes hit water desalination pumps in the coastal Bunji village, in Iran’s Jask county — “completely disrupting the supply of drinking water to 20 villages”.
Hamzeh Pour, the CEO of the Hormozgan Water and Wastewater Company, told Tasnim that “a population of approximately 10,000 people” had been affected. He referred to the US strikes as “a series of crimes and terrorist attacks”, wherein a pumping station for extracting water from the sea and a power transformer at the Bunji desalination plant were “completely destroyed”.
“These villages are facing a severe water shortage,” he added.
The Electricity Ministry of Kuwait said a fire had broken out at a power and water desalination plant following the Iranian missile strikes. The ministry added that several power generation units were also shut down. It said efforts were under way to contain the fire and carry out repairs.
Kuwait Airways said on Saturday it has rescheduled most flights after the country temporarily suspended operations at Kuwait International Airport following Iranian missile and drone attacks.
Israeli warplanes target southern Lebanon in dawn air strikes
According to an Al Jazeera update citing Lebanon’s National News Agency, Israeli war jets conducted air strikes in two dawn waves. They targeted the Masha’ al-Mansouri area in southern Lebanon.
Several US soldiers injured as Iran attacked Jordan airbases: Report
Multiple US officials have told CBS News that American service members were injured as Iran attacked two airbases in Jordan this week. Details remain scarce, but there were reportedly no fatalities among the Americans or the Jordanians.
Kuwait airport suspends operations, most flights rescheduled
Kuwait Airways said on Saturday it has rescheduled most flights after the country temporarily suspended operations at Kuwait International Airport following Iranian missile and drone attacks.
The airline had earlier said the rescheduling was due to the closure of Kuwaiti airspace.
US urges Americans to rethink Middle East travel
The US State Department has advised Americans to reconsider travel to and through the Middle East as tensions across the region continue to rise. It warned that the security situation remains unpredictable and could deteriorate without warning. The department also urged US citizens already in the region to stay alert, follow the latest developments, and confirm flight schedules with their airlines before travelling.
Middle East: Due to high tensions in the Middle East, the security environment remains complex with the potential for unforeseen escalation. We remind Americans in the region of the continued need for caution and encourage them to monitor the news for breaking developments.… pic.twitter.com/QKgyNLJSo9
— TravelGov (@TravelGov) July 18, 2026
Iraq looks beyond Hormuz with new oil deals
Iraq signed a series of preliminary agreements with Western energy companies during a US-Iraq business summit in Washington, including a major project to revive the long-idle Iraq-Syria oil pipeline. The restored route would allow Iraqi crude to reach Syria’s Mediterranean coast, giving Baghdad an alternative export corridor that bypasses the Strait of Hormuz. According to Iraq’s state news agency, US energy giant Chevron will lead the pipeline reconstruction project.
The Kuwaiti army says it is again responding to Iranian missile and drone attacks, urging the public to “adhere to the authorities’ safety and security instructions”.
Any explosions heard are the sounds of air defences engaging hostile attacks, the army added in a statement shared on X.
