Latest war news. Trump’s fury over soldiers killed: US raid on Qeshm. Mystery surrounding Khamenei: he is not in Iran

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) “is investigating reports of an attack that took place overnight on the construction site of a nuclear power station currently in the planning stage in Darkhovin, Iran”.

Earlier, the Iranian Atomic Energy Organisation had announced that the United States had launched an attack on a nuclear power station construction site in the south-western province of Khuzestan.

The United States will continue to ensure freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz even in the absence of a peace agreement with Iran: this was stated by the US Secretary of Energy, Chris Wright, in an interview with ABC News.

“We have made it clear that, should Iran launch missiles at Israel, we will strike back with force, without any external approval or conditions.” This was stated by the Israeli Defence Minister, Israel Katz, after Iran launched a missile attack on Aqaba, a city in southern Jordan not far from the border with Israel.

The International Atomic Energy Agency “is investigating reports of an attack that took place overnight on the construction site of a planned nuclear power station in Darkhovin, Iran”, according to a statement issued by the IAEA itself. “The plant is still in the very early stages of construction and, at the time of the IAEA’s last inspection, did not contain any nuclear material,” the statement adds. The International Atomic Energy Agency also states that, “although the reported attack is not believed to pose any radiological risk”, its Director General, Rafael Grossi, “reiterates his call for the utmost military restraint in the vicinity of all nuclear-related sites”. (ANSA).

The Jordanian army has stated that three Iranian ballistic missiles fired at the southern city of Aqaba were intercepted, whilst a fourth struck an open area. This was reported by the Petra news agency, as cited by the Times of Israel. No injuries were reported as a result of the attack. The missiles were shot down by a US air defence system. The Israeli Defence Forces also launched Iron Dome interceptors to shoot down debris that could have threatened the nearby city of Eilat.

“The Republicans should add Iran to the bill on sanctions against Russia.” US President Donald Trump wrote this on Truth Social, adding that this is what the late US Senator Lindsey Graham – the Senate’s leading proponent of one of the most significant bills on sanctions against Russia – would have wanted.

The Israeli army has announced that it has detected a launch of ballistic missiles from Iran towards Aqaba, a city in southern Jordan not far from the border with Israel. “There could also be repercussions on Israeli territory as a result of the strikes,” the IDF warned, whilst, according to Amman’s state television, air-raid sirens are sounding throughout the Hashemite Kingdom.

No decision has been taken to evacuate the port or the international airport in Aqaba, Jordan, following the security alert issued by the US Embassy, which referred to a “credible threat”. This was stated to Al Arabiya by the Jordanian Minister of Communications and government spokesperson, Mohammad al-Momani, who clarified that both facilities “are operating normally”. Al-Momani added that the port of Aqaba continues to operate “at full capacity”.

“Due to a specific and credible threat, the Jordanian authorities have evacuated Aqaba International Airport and Port. We strongly advise all US citizens to refrain from travelling to the airport or the port.” This is according to a statement from the US Embassy in Jordan, which urges people to continue “following all security directives issued by the Jordanian authorities”.

Israeli settlers stepped up their attacks in the West Bank overnight and in the early hours of this morning, setting fire to a mosque and several homes, damaging property and stealing Palestinian livestock. This is according to Wafa. In the village of al-Tuwani, in Masafer Yatta, settlers from the Havat Ma’on outpost set fire last night to two houses belonging to Palestinian families and the al-Tuwani mosque. The attack, carried out using highly flammable materials, caused fires that spread to most of the properties. In the Hebron governorate too, settlers attacked two occupied houses in the Wadi al-Rakhim area, south of the town of Yatta, last night, stealing livestock. According to Wafa, Israeli occupation forces fired live rounds in the area, though no injuries were reported. In Nablus, this morning settlers attacked the al-Zahra area, assaulting residents and damaging homes and property. Yesterday, settlers also assaulted a Palestinian on the Jenin–Nablus road, injuring him in the hand. Also last night, settlers set fire to the home of the Palestinian Suhaib Radwan, south of the town of Tell, south of Nablus, destroying the house, which had already been the target of an attack a few months ago.

“We continue to follow with concern the events unfolding in various countries torn apart by war and violence. Let us not forget those who are suffering and dying as a result of these conflicts. And let us combine our constant prayers with our generous commitment to peace.” Pope Leo XIV said this as he addressed the faithful and pilgrims gathered at Castel Gandolfo after the recitation of the Angelus.

“Due to a specific and credible threat, the Jordanian authorities have evacuated Aqaba International Airport and the port of Aqaba. We strongly advise all US citizens to avoid travelling to the airport or the port. Continue to follow all security directives issued by the Jordanian authorities.” This was stated in a note from the US Embassy in Amman following the Iranian air strikes that targeted the Hashemite Kingdom, as well as Bahrain and Kuwait, in response to the US attacks.

-The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy has stated that four US-backed vessels violated maritime regulations and attempted to cross the Strait of Hormuz on a “dangerous” course, “after switching off their navigation systems and ignoring official warnings”. This was reported by the Tehran Times on X. According to the statement, two of the vessels encountered problems and were forced to stop, whilst the remaining two abandoned the passage and turned back.

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Medical teams in Gaza have recovered the bodies of two Palestinians in the Al-Zeitoun neighbourhood, east of Gaza City. This was reported by the Wafa news agency, citing medical sources in the Gaza Strip, who stated that the bodies were recovered on Kashko Street, an area hit by Israeli shelling last night. The Al-Zeitoun neighbourhood was the scene of heavy artillery shelling yesterday following evacuation threats from Israel, which, according to the news agency, forced dozens of families to flee the area.

The commander of the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Command, Ali Abdollahi, stated that “the Iranian armed forces will deliver a decisive and devastating response to any aggression or act of barbarism by the enemy”. “We will inflict costs on them far greater than those they incurred in their recent wars against Iran,” he warned, according to the Tasnim news agency. Meanwhile, Mohsen Rezaei, chief adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader, said that “the armed forces will move to the offensive against the United States if the attacks on Iran continue”. “The Americans will receive a slap in the face through our tit-for-tat attacks,” he added.

Israel is reportedly stepping up pressure to take control of the ancient Pools of Solomon, a complex of water reservoirs located near Bethlehem in the West Bank, in what could mark a further escalation in the dispute over Palestinian territory and historical heritage. This is according to The Guardian. According to the British newspaper, the turning point came in May when Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich declared his intention to ‘cancel’ the agreements that have recognised Palestinian ownership of the site for over thirty years. Since then, the presence of settlers and Israeli forces in the area has increased. Solomon’s Pools date back to the 2nd century BC, although the main structure was built during the Roman period as part of a vast water system designed to supply Jerusalem, some 13 kilometres away. The complex was subsequently expanded during the Ottoman period and modernised under the British Mandate. Today, the pools no longer supply the city’s water network, but serve as one of the main recreational spots for the residents of Bethlehem and the surrounding villages. The site has become a symbol of the growing pressure being exerted on Palestinians in the West Bank. Following a visit by Smotrich and the Israeli MP Zvi Sukkot, during which the two claimed the site as part of Israeli territory, there have reportedly been an increase in incursions by settlers. On 10 July, the newspaper adds, Israeli soldiers carried out an operation in the area, firing tear gas whilst some children were swimming in the pools.

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The Revolutionary Guards have stated that Iranian forces shot down a US MQ-9 drone over Ahvaz, in the south-western province of Khuzestan, earlier today. This was reported by the Iranian news agency IRNA

A new escalation between the United States and Iran. Overnight, US forces carried out a fresh wave of attacks against Iranian military targets. According to the Iranian news agency IRNA, the raids targeted several installations across the country, with explosions reported in various areas affected by the military operations.

The authorities in Tehran have condemned the US offensive as a further violation of national sovereignty, whilst an assessment of the damage is under way.

Situated just 22 kilometres south of the Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas, the southern island of Qeshm overlooks the Strait of Clarence – the stretch of sea separating the island from the mainland, also known as Kuran – and serves as the main base for Iran’s ‘asymmetric’ naval power. This is reported by Al Jazeera in an analysis of the strategic importance of the island, which was bombed overnight by US forces. Although the exact figures regarding the number of Iranian fast patrol boats and coastal batteries hidden in the island’s underground labyrinths remain classified, their strategic intent is clear. The Qatari media outlet quotes retired Lebanese Brigadier General Hassan Jouni, a military expert, who states that Qeshm houses “extraordinary Iranian capabilities” within what is described as an underground “missile city”. These vast networks, Jouni stated, are designed for a single purpose: to control or block the Strait of Hormuz. It is no coincidence that Qeshm is described as Iran’s ‘unsinkable aircraft carrier’.

Alarm sirens have gone off in Bahrain. Al-Arabiya has reported this, stating that the Interior Ministry of the Gulf monarchy has urged citizens and residents to remain calm and make their way to the nearest safe place.

- Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, “is not in Iran”. This was reported by an Israeli security source quoted by the Saudi broadcaster Al-Hadath, without specifying his whereabouts. According to the same source, Khamenei – who was appointed Supreme Leader following his father’s death in the joint US-Israeli raids on 28 February and has not yet appeared in public – is said to be entrusting his messages to the new commander of the Revolutionary Guards, Ahmad Vahidi, and to other senior members of the Pasdaran. The source also claims that “internal divisions in Iran run deep and threaten the very existence of the Revolutionary Guards”. According to Al-Hadath, the United States has asked Israel not to take part in any attacks against Iran, even should Tehran strike Israeli territory.

“The Great Satan – the criminal United States – has now realised that the continuation of its unchallenged and dominant presence in the region is nothing more than a naïve fantasy.” This is what can be read on the X account of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, in the midst of the military escalation between Iran and the United States.

To “punish” the Iranian forces believed to be responsible for the attack that led to the deaths of two American servicemen in Jordan. This was the aim of last night’s air strikes against the Islamic Republic, according to the US Central Command (Centcom). The strikes targeted units of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps accused of launching ballistic missiles and drones against US forces, resulting in the first American casualties since the start of the new phase of the conflict. Tehran responded by announcing that it had struck two US bases in Kuwait with drones – the Camp Udairi ammunition depot and the radar and surveillance systems at Ali Al Salem Air Base – as well as launching further attacks in Jordan. According to Centcom, in addition to the two servicemen killed on Friday, a third is still missing, bringing the US death toll to 16 since the start of the war, which broke out on 28 February following joint US and Israeli attacks against Iran. The eighth consecutive night of US air strikes also targeted Sirik, an Iranian port on the Strait of Hormuz, according to the Fars and Tasnim news agencies. Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has promised the United States an “unforgettable lesson”, whilst senior military commanders have threatened a resumption of large-scale offensive operations and a “decisive and devastating” response in the event of further US attacks.

“Kuwait’s air defences are currently intercepting hostile missile and drone attacks following Iran’s cowardly aggression.” This was stated by the Kuwaiti Army General Staff in a statement released by the Kuna news agency minutes after air-raid sirens had sounded across the emirate. “Any explosions heard are the result of hostile attacks being intercepted by air defence systems,” added the General Staff, which urges everyone to “follow the safety instructions issued by the relevant authorities”.

The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) have declared the entire border area with the Gaza Strip a “closed military zone” ahead of the ‘March of the Thousands’, organised today by the Nahala settler movement with the stated aim of re-establishing Israeli communities in the Palestinian enclave. This is reported by The Times of Israel. The measure is in force from 8 am today until 8 am tomorrow and covers the entire perimeter of Gaza, from Yad Mordechai, in the north of the Strip, to Kerem Shalom, in the far south. According to a military source quoted by the newspaper, the order was issued because the march organisers reportedly intend to “enter the Gaza Strip illegally”. The march will set off at 5.00 pm from the Yad Mordechai area under the slogan ‘returning home after 21 years’, referring to the 2005 evacuation of the Gush Katif bloc of Israeli settlements during the disengagement from Gaza. The organisers are specifically aiming to re-establish settlements in the north of the Strip. According to the event’s promotional material, several government figures are expected to take part in the march, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who is also responsible for the administration of settlements in the West Bank, and other ministers from Likud, the party of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is listed as one of the co-organisers of the initiative.

The US Central Command (Centcom) has carried out another series of strikes against Iran. The announcement was made on Centcom’s X social media profile. “During the eighth consecutive night of US strikes, Centcom forces – as stated in the Central Command’s statement – successfully struck Iranian military coastal surveillance and air defence facilities, naval vessels, and missile and drone storage sites, with the aim of further weakening Iran’s military capabilities. The US armed forces also targeted forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps which, on 17 July, had launched attacks against members of the US armed forces in Jordan.”

The Iranian army claims to have launched a large-scale drone attack against two “US military facilities” in Kuwait. This was reported by Al Jazeera. In a statement released by the state broadcaster Irib, the military said that its “destructive drones” had struck an ammunition depot at Camp Al Adiri, as well as Patriot systems and air defence radars at Ali Al Salem Air Base.

According to the office of the governor of Hormozgan, at 3.40 am (local time) an area near the island of Qeshm was hit by a military attack launched by the US. This was reported by the Iranian news agency IRNA on the social media platform X. The Tasnim news agency reports that at least six missiles struck areas on the outskirts of Qeshm Island. Several explosions have also reportedly been reported in Bandar Abbas, on Iran’s southern coast, but there is no official confirmation at present.

“Enemy military attacks” attributed to the US have targeted a location near Sirik, an Iranian town situated close to the Strait of Hormuz, according to the Mehr news agency. The raid took place at 1.30 am local time, according to the same source. “No injuries or damage to residential or commercial infrastructure have been reported,” Mehr added.

The United States has launched a new wave of attacks against Iran. “Today at 6 pm (midnight in Italia), US forces launched new air strikes against Iran on the orders of the Commander-in-Chief,” reads a post on X by US Central Command. “These attacks are intended to further reduce Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and to swiftly punish the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces that launched attacks against US military personnel in Jordan last night.”

Trump: ‘Has Iran pulled out of the deal? I couldn’t care less’

Donald Trump has said he does not care that Iran has cancelled the memorandum of understanding signed in Islamabad. Commenting on Tehran’s statements in a telephone interview with NewsNation, the US president said: “I couldn’t care less.”

Donald Trump commented on the deaths of the two soldiers in an Iranian attack in Jordan, saying it was “a very sad thing”. In a telephone interview with NewsNation, the US president said that “it is painful to witness all this. It is a sacrifice made in the service of our country”. The tycoon also reiterated that Iran “will never have a nuclear weapon”.

The United States is urgently deploying further fighter aircraft to Iran. This has been revealed by the Wall Street Journal, citing informed sources. F-16s capable of striking Iranian radars used to launch surface-to-air missiles are arriving from Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany. Meanwhile, F-35 stealth fighters are taking off from the British air base at Lakenheath in England, accompanied by tanker aircraft for in-flight refuelling.

News on the war in the Middle East on 18 July