Bahrain, Kuwait struck Iran earlier this month, in rare direct move by Gulf states, according to WSJ | LIVE

Israeli demolitions in Mais al-Jabal

The Israeli army has carried out demolitions in the village of Mais al-Jabal (Marjyoun), reports our correspondent in southern Lebanon.

Aoun welcomes Vatican’s support for efforts to establish security and stability in Lebanon

President Joseph Aoun received a call from the Vatican’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who expressed the Holy See’s support for his efforts “to establish security and stability in the country, particularly in the south,” according to the Lebanese Presidency on X.

The cardinal stated that the Holy See was closely monitoring the situation in Lebanon and that “Pope Leo XIV was praying for an end to the suffering of the Lebanese people and for the establishment of peace” in the country.

Latest developments in southern Lebanon

• Israeli strikes on homes in the Bader Al-Faqani area of Taybeh (Marjayoun).
• Israeli strikes on homes in the town of Tiri (Bint Jbeil).
• Israeli artillery shelling targeting the town of Tallousa (Marjayoun).
• Another Israeli sound grenade fired on Mansouri (Sour).
• A major exploasion carried out in Kfar Tibnit (Nabatieh).
• Israeli artillery shelling targeting the town of Kounin (Bint Jbeil).
• A major Israeli explosion on homes in Adsheet al-Qasir (Marjayoun).

Bahrain, Kuwait struck Iran earlier this month, in rare direct move by Gulf states, according to WSJ

Bahrain and Kuwait secretly dispatched fighter jets to attack sites in Iran earlier this month, according to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ). This marks their first direct retaliation against Tehran, illustrating the delicate situation in which the Arab states find themselves as the war drags on, according to sources close to the matter.

“The air strikes at the start of the month targeted, in particular, drone and missile depots, as well as other military sites,” some of these sources said. The United Arab Emirates, which attacked Iran on several occasions at the start of the conflict, provided intelligence on the targets and defensive air cover, a sign of emerging Arab cooperation in the face of Iran, they added.

The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem urges nationals 'to exercise caution'

The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem has issued a security alert, urging Americans to “exercise increased caution, remain vigilant, and be prepared for possible flight cancellations, airspace closures, and other travel disruptions,” due to “increased tensions in the Middle East.”

“The security environment remains complex, with the potential for unforeseen escalation,” warns the embassy, which is urging travelers to check their flight status directly with airlines or airports.

Health Ministry: 3,330 people killed and 12,236 injured since March 2

The Health Ministry has published an updated toll of casualties from Israel's war on Lebanon since March 2, with 4,330 people killed and 12,236 others injured.

Israeli artillery fire in Tallousa and stun grenade fired on Mansouri

Israeli artillery fire targeted the village of Tallousa (Marjayoun), according to our correspondent in southern Lebanon.

An Israeli drone also fired a stun grenade on Mansouri (Sour).

Trump warns Russia and China against selling arms to Iran

Donald Trump has warned Russia and China against selling arms to Iran, adding, however, that he believes Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin when they say they are not involved in such transactions.

“So, two major countries often mentioned when it comes to Iran are not involved, in my view. If they were, it would be very bad for them — certainly not in their interests,” he wrote on his Truth Social platform.

Israel launches military operation amidst escalating settler violence against Palestinians

Four Palestinians and two Israeli soldiers were killed near a Palestinian village on Friday in a confrontation that added to a growing toll over recent weeks as Israeli settler violence has intensified against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.

The incident near the village of Tal, southwest of Nablus, took place as settler attacks on Palestinian villages have increased sharply since the start of the year, according to figures from the United Nations.

Israel's military said it had received reports that Israeli civilians who were hiking in the area had been attacked near the village, in the so-called Area A of the West Bank. The area is under Palestinian Authority civil and security control and Israelis are officially prohibited from entering.

The military said a Palestinian man took a weapon from Israeli security personnel from the nearby settlement of Havat Gilad and opened fire, wounding several Israelis before being killed. It said four Palestinians had been killed.

Local Palestinian officials said a large group of Israeli settlers had tried to break into two houses and were then confronted by villagers.

Read more here.

Kuwait's defense ministry says its air defences are currently intercepting 'hostile' targets launched

Kuwait's military said Friday that its air defenses are confronting attacks by hostile drones following what it described as "Iranian aggression."

The General Staff of the Kuwaiti Army said any explosion sounds heard in the country are the result of air defense systems intercepting the incoming drones. The military urged residents to follow safety instructions issued by authorities

US imposes new sanctions on Iranian individuals and companies for circumventing sanctions

The U.S. Treasury Department announced on Friday new sanctions targeting four individuals and nine companies linked to Iran, including firms based in Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.

According to the Treasury Department, these sanctions target individuals and entities associated with the Iranian financier Babak Zanjani for alleged sanctions evasion.

EU Ambassador reaffirms her support for the Lebanese army

The Commander of the Lebanese Army Rodolph Haykal met with the European Union’s Ambassador to Lebanon, Sandra De Waele, at his office in Yarzeh according to the National News Agency (NNA). The meeting focused on the latest developments in Lebanon and the region, as well as ways to support the Lebanese Army.

During the meeting, De Waele commended the army’s efforts to maintain stability and security in Lebanon, emphasizing that the EU would continue to support the forces. Haykal, for his part, expressed his gratitude for the EU’s initiatives to support the army in the face of current challenges.

Netanyahu to meet Trump at White House on Tuesday

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu will fly to the United States on Monday and meet with Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday, his office has announced.

UN chief ‘deeply concerned’ about the resumption of attacks by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is “very concerned” about the resumption of attacks by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels on ships in the Red Sea, which threatens to “escalate regional tensions,” his spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said in a statement on Friday.

Guterres “is very concerned about the resumption of Houthi attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea and the renewed threats to maritime navigation,” said Dujarric, calling on the Houthis to avoid any further action that could lead to an escalation.

The attacks claimed on Thursday by the Houthis against two Saudi oil tankers “threaten to heighten regional tensions and widen the cycle of escalation, with the risk of dragging Yemen into the regional conflict,” he added.

Latest developments in southern Lebanon

• Israeli artillery shelling targeted the town of Markaba (Marjayoun).
• An Israeli Merkava tank was observed moving along the Tiri-Hadatha road (Bint Jbeil).
• An Israeli drone fired a stun grenade on the town of Mansouri (Sour).
• The Israeli army blew up homes in the Baidar al-Fakaani area of Taybeh, a village in Marjayoun.

Houthis deny closing Bab al-Mandeb, say naval blockade targets only Saudi Arabia

Yemen’s Houthi movement denied closing the strategic Bab al-Mandeb Strait, saying its naval operations are limited to a targeted blockade against Saudi Arabia.

Mohammed Abdul Salam, the group’s chief negotiator and spokesperson, rejected claims of a complete closure of the strait in a post on X. “Contrary to what some are claiming, the Bab al-Mandeb Strait is not closed,” he wrote.

“Yemen’s position, as announced by the Yemeni armed forces, is limited to a maritime blockade that only affects Saudi Arabia, in response to its siege of Yemen and its refusal to accept any fair approach to a solution that guarantees the security, autonomy and independence of the Yemeni people.”

The Ansar Allah movement, better known as the Houthis, has launched repeated attacks on ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden since late 2023. The group says the attacks are part of a campaign of solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.

Jordan says it shot down seven missiles and six drones launched from Iran

The Jordanian army said it shot down seven missiles and six drones launched from Iran targeting the country, which has been regularly targeted by retaliatory strikes since the resumption of hostilities in the Middle East.

The interception operations, carried out by air defense systems and air force aircraft, "caused no casualties or material damage," the army said in a statement.

US airstrikes on Iran kill 55 over two weeks, Iranian official says

Recent U.S. airstrikes on Iran over the past two weeks have killed 55 people, according to a spokesperson for Iran's Health Ministry, speaking to the Fars news agency.

According to the official, the southwestern province of Khuzestan suffered the highest number of casualties, followed by the southern provinces of Hormozgan and Sistan and Baluchistan. Those three provinces also accounted for most of the deaths. The spokesperson added that several hundred people were wounded in the attacks, eight of whom remain hospitalized.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards urge civilians to stay away from US forces in Middle East

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the powerful armed force of the Islamic Republic of Iran, called on civilians in the Middle East to stay 500 meters away from any site housing U.S. forces amid military escalation with Washington.

"We urge the population of countries where U.S. troops are stationed to immediately stay 500 meters away from their hiding places, so that they are safe," the IRGC said in a statement broadcast on state television as Iran strikes neighboring Gulf states in retaliation for U.S. attacks.

Bahrain defence forces say intercepted several Iranian aerial attacks

Bahrain’s defense forces say their air defense systems have intercepted several Iranian attacks.

In a message shared on social media, it said it continues to urge everyone to “exercise caution, to avoid approaching any foreign or suspicious objects resulting from the debris of the brutal Iranian attack, and to report them immediately.”

The army added that Iran’s “deliberate use of missiles and drones to target civilians and private property constitutes a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law.”

UN rights chief calls for evacuation of 6,000 stranded seafarers in Hormuz

U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has called for the protection and evacuation of the 6,000 seafarers still stranded in the Strait of Hormuz aboard ships unable to safely leave the Persian Gulf.

"The High Commissioner calls on states, shipowners and all relevant actors to urgently ensure the protection of stranded seafarers, including by guaranteeing effective access to consular assistance, essential supplies and services, and by facilitating evacuations and repatriations," High Commissioner spokesperson Shabia Mantoo told reporters in Geneva.

Iran's Revolutionary Guard claims to have destroyed Amazon data center in Bahrain

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the powerful military force of the Islamic Republic, claimed to have destroyed an Amazon data center in Bahrain during retaliatory strikes following U.S. airstrikes.

Iranian armed forces "targeted and destroyed the data center of the American company Amazon in Bahrain, which plays a major role in gathering intelligence for the U.S. military," the IRGC said in a statement broadcast on state television.

Neither Amazon nor Bahraini authorities have commented on the claim.

Iran says it considers any facility in the Middle East made available to the U.S. military for strikes on its territory a legitimate target. During previous strikes on Bahrain on Wednesday, Iranian forces also claimed to have targeted an Amazon facility, a claim that has not been independently confirmed.

Iran says Revolutionary Guard naval headquarters hit by US strikes in north

U.S. airstrikes targeted the headquarters of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' naval forces in northern Iran but caused no casualties, according to local authorities quoted by the IRNA news agency.

"This morning, the headquarters of the Revolutionary Guard Corps' naval forces in Zibakenar was targeted by projectiles from the American enemy, damaging some equipment," provincial official Ali Bagheri said.

Zibakenar, a resort town on the Caspian Sea, is located about 350 kilometers from Tehran.

Explosions, smoke reported near Erbil airport

Explosions were heard and smoke was seen rising near Erbil airport in Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region, an AFP correspondent reported.

Photo: Zawtar Gharbieh residents returning to village

(Credit: Mohammed Yassine/L'Orient Today)

Residents of Zawtar Gharbieh entering the town accompanied by the Lebanese Army on July 24, 2026.

Residents begin returning to Zawtar Gharbieh

Residents began returning to the town of Zawtar Gharbieh in Nabatieh, with authorities organizing their return in phases by neighborhood, our correspondent in the South reported.

The process was briefly disrupted by a dispute at the town's entrance over the return procedure, our correspondent said.

Residents demanded that all inhabitants be allowed to enter in their own vehicles after undergoing security inspections. An alternative proposal would have limited access to one representative from each household, who would have been transported by Lebanese Army vehicles to inspect their homes.

The village is part of the second "pilot zone" established under the framework for an Israeli withdrawal.

Revolutionary Guard Navy headquarters hit by US strikes in the north

U.S. airstrikes targeted the headquarters of the Revolutionary Guard Navy in northern Iran but caused no casualties, according to local authorities quoted by the IRNA news agency.

“This morning, the headquarters of the Revolutionary Guard Corps’ naval forces in Zibakenar was targeted by projectiles from the American enemy, damaging some equipment,” provincial official Ali Bagheri said.

Zibakenar, a resort town on the Caspian Sea, is located about 350 kilometers from Tehran.

Health Ministry denounces 'direct' targeting of ambulance in Nabatieh Fawqa

Following the Israeli airstrike that wounded two paramedics from the Islamic Health Committee in Nabatieh Fawqa, Lebanon’s Health Ministry denounced the “direct” targeting of a rescue team’s ambulance, describing the attack as “a further act of aggression adding to the crimes committed by the enemy against paramedics and health care teams.”

In a statement, the Ministry condemned “the resumption of unjustified Israeli attacks against ambulances and rescue teams,” asserting that these “systematic” attacks constitute “a continued flagrant violation of laws, international conventions and international humanitarian law.”

It also stressed “the need not to remain silent in the face of the enemy’s disregard for these laws, which guarantee the protection of health care personnel,” calling on the international community and the United Nations to “put an end to these repeated attacks.”

Iran reports 4 killed by US airstrikes in the southwest of the country

Iranian authorities reported four people were killed in overnight U.S. airstrikes targeting southwestern Iran, near the oil-rich city of Ahvaz.

"Four of our compatriots were martyred and five others were wounded following a missile attack carried out by the American terrorist enemy," provincial official Valiollah Hayati said, according to the state-run IRNA news agency.

Iran says it will hold responsible any country 'participating, cooperating with, or assisting' the United States in its attack

Iran's foreign minister said, after another night of U.S. airstrikes, that any country "participating, cooperating with, or assisting" the United States would be held responsible by Tehran.

"Any participation, cooperation, or assistance in the commission of an act of aggression against Iran will entail the international responsibility of the parties involved," Abbas Araghchi said during a speech in Kyrgyzstan at a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

He added that Iran "reserves the right to take all necessary measures in self-defense."

Iran claims responsibility for attacks on 2 US military bases in Jordan, Bahrain

The Iranian military claimed responsibility for drone attacks on U.S. military installations at al-Azraq Air Base in Jordan and Sheikh Issa Air Base in Bahrain, Reuters reported, citing Iranian state media.

“This morning, Arash kamikaze drones targeted fuel tanks, large equipment warehouses, silos and barracks belonging to the U.S. terrorist army forces at Isa Air Base in Bahrain,” the military said in a statement broadcast on state television.

An explosion was heard in Bahrain this morning after air raid sirens sounded, an AFP journalist reported, as the kingdom has been targeted almost daily by Iran since hostilities resumed in the Middle East.

Iran calls Trump’s plan to use Iranian funds to pay for damage to ships in Gulf 'flaming precedent'

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Donald Trump’s plan to use frozen Iranian funds to reimburse damage to ships struck in the Gulf sets a “flaming precedent.”

“Seizing another country’s assets to settle future debts ... constitutes a flaming precedent,” Araghchi wrote on X.

Trump says frozen Iranian funds will be used to pay for damage to ships hit in the Gulf

Donald Trump said Iranian funds frozen in the United States will now be used to pay for damage to ships hit in the Gulf.

“From now on, all damage to ships, cargo or anything else related to them will be paid for with Iranian money that the United States has in its possession and controls,” the U.S. president said on his Truth Social platform.

Israeli army carries out bombings in several localities in south Lebanon

Thursday night into Friday was marked by numerous bombings carried out by the Israeli army, according to our correspondent in southern Lebanon.

Around 10 p.m., Israeli drones and fighter jets flew over several localities in southern Lebanon.

The occupying forces also set fire to a house near the al-Mabarrat school in Khiam, while an airstrike targeted the Wadi al-Khanazir area, near Qsair and Deir Siryan, in the Marjayoun district.

After 11 p.m., a major explosion occurred in Mansouri, in the Sour district, accompanied by another targeting homes in Haddatha, in the Bint Jbeil district.

Israeli forces also carried out a violent demolition in Markaba, in the Marjayoun district.

Additionally, Israeli artillery fire targeted Kfar Tibnit and Ali al-Taher, in the Nabatieh district.

According to a count by our correspondent in southern Lebanon, the Israeli army carried out an airstrike on a southern town Thursday, a drone strike targeting an ambulance belonging to the Islamic Health Committee, and artillery bombardments of six towns.

The Israeli army also carried out six explosions targeting homes and infrastructure in six villages in southern Lebanon before setting fire to houses in the Marjayoun district, particularly in Qsair.

Explosions and US airstrikes reported in several areas of southern Iran

Alongside overnight U.S. airstrikes, explosions were heard in several areas of southern Iran, Reuters reports, citing Iranian media.

An explosion was reported on the southern coast of Qeshm Island, near the Strait of Hormuz, and another west of the port city of Bandar Abbas, according to Iranian state television.

The Fars news agency, for its part, reported several explosions in the city of Ahvaz.

US military announces it conducted 13th consecutive night of strikes on Iranian military targets

U.S. Central Command, or CENTCOM, announced overnight that it had completed a 13th consecutive night of strikes on military targets in Iran.

According to a statement posted on X, the attacks targeted military command centers, drone storage facilities, communications networks, coastal surveillance sites and maritime capabilities to “further reduce the threat posed by Iran to civilian and commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.”

CENTCOM also said the international waterway “remains open to navigation” despite recent attacks by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, adding that commercial vessels continue to transit it with support from the U.S. military.

Catch up on our Morning Brief

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Good morning! We are now launching our live coverage of news from the region.

We are now launching our live coverage of news from the Middle East, where tensions continue to escalate amid exchanges of airstrikes between the United States and Iran.

We will also follow the situation in southern Lebanon, where the Israeli army continues to occupy approximately 620 square kilometers along the border and conduct airstrikes and demolitions.

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