Morning recap Good morning Middle East Eye readers, The US launched a new wave of strikes on Iran overnight, as blasts were reported near the US consulate in Erbil. Iraq’s Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi "strongly condemned" the drone attack in the city. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced targeting several military structures, a gathering of US forces and radar systems across Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan.
Fresh strikes reported in Khandab city, Semnan airport Iranian media reported new attacks in Bandar Abbas, Qeshm island, Sirik, Chabahar, Konarak, Rask, Khondab, Khorramabad and Semnan. The latest attack involved a site in Khandab city that was targeted by "two enemy projectiles," according to state media IRNA. The deputy head of the Central Governorate's Office for Politics, Security and Social Affairs, Hassan Qamari, told the news agency that the "aggressive enemy attack" was on the outskirts of the city.
Iran targets US forces gathering in Kuwait, radar systems in Bahrain The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced targeting a C-RAM early warning radar system at the Ali al-Salem base in Kuwait as well as a gathering of "criminal soldiers of the US terrorist army". Another attack targeted communication and radar systems in Bahrain's Sheikh Isa Air base. The latest salvo is part of Iran's tenth phase of Operation Lightning, the statement indicated, adding that Tehran "stands firm and steadfast against the enemy, merciful to one another".
Jordan says eight Iranian missiles intercepted Jordan's Armed Forces announced eight Iranian missiles were intercepted early on Thursday. The military said that the incident resulted in no casualties or property damage. This statement follows Iran’s latest attacks targeting US military infrastructure across the region, including the al-Azraq Air Base in Jordan.
Israel releases remains of soldier to Lebanon The Lebanese army said on Wednesday that it received the body of a soldier killed and withheld by the Israeli army nearly three months ago. According to the statement, the remains of Patrick Bakarian were delivered by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The soldier was missing since 19 April, where it was later discovered that he had been killed and his body withheld by Israeli forces.
Iraq's prime minister 'strongly condemns' drone attack in Erbil Iraq’s Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has "strongly condemned" a drone attack in the city of Erbil in the Kurdistan region. "We affirm that we will not tolerate these sinful attempts, which in desperation seek to undermine the stability of our people and their confident path toward building the state and societal peace," he said in a post on X. Earlier, several explosions were heard late on Wednesday near the US consulate in Erbil.
Centcom says it ended latest strikes against Iran, as Tehran targets US facilities The US Central Command (Centcom) said that it completed its latest wave of strikes against Iran, saying it struck command centres, air defence sites, missile and drone capabilities as well as coastal surveillance facilities. Meanwhile, Iran’s military said its newest attacks targeted the US al-Azraq Air Base in Jordan and US military assets at the Ali al-Salem Air Base in Kuwait.
Death toll in Iran rises to 35 since start of US attacks in July Iranian health official Hossein Kermanpour said that at least 35 people were killed from the US attacks this month, and 300 others were wounded. Hormozgan, Sistan and Baluchestan and Khuzestan have suffered the most damage, according to Kermanpour.
Trump says Iran 'wants to settle so badly' US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Iran "wants to settle so badly," adding that he would decide whether or not to take that step. “They don't like what we're doing, and they do want to settle. " US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Iran "wants to settle so badly," adding that he would decide whether or not to take that step pic.
Hospital in Iran's Ahvaz temporarily evacuated following nearby US attacks An Iranian hospital that treats patients with cancer and blood diseases, especially children, was temporarily evacuated following nearby US strikes, state media reported. "After the aggressive attack by the criminal America on the hospital's surroundings, we were obliged to transfer 211 hospitalised patients," Majid Bouadhar, director of Shahid Baghaei Hospital in Ahvaz, announced. Families have evacuated the facility to ensure their children's safety, with only the most critically ill patients remaining.
Iran says it shot down US drone over Andimeshk Iranian air defence systems have struck down a US Air Force MQ-9A Reaper drone over the city of Andimeshk, in Iran's Khuzestan Province, state media reported.
Iranian air defence activated to respond to 'hostile threats' over Tehran Iranian air defences are responding to 'hostile threats' over Tehran, the semi-official Mehr News Agency reported.
Trump says US 'appreciates' Iran for releasing American citizen Donald Trump said that the US "appreciates" Iran after it allowed an American who was "wrongfully detained" in 2024 to leave the country. "Iran has allowed an American Citizen, who was wrongfully detained in December of 2024 under the 'presidency' of Sleepy Joe Biden, to leave the Country," the US president wrote on his Truth Social platform. "She is now safely outside of Iran, and in good condition," Trump added.
Blasts heard in Iran's Bandar Abbas, Sirik and Qeshm Island Two explosions were reported east of Bandar Abbas in southern Iran, according to state media. Meanwhile, a unit of a fish powder factory on Qeshm Island was damaged in the latest US attacks. No casualties were reported.
Kuwait says it is intercepting Iranian attacks, Bahrain sounds off air raid sirens The Kuwaiti army said it was "engaging hostile drone attacks following the nefarious Iranian aggression". Elsewhere, Bahrain activates sirens in the country, urging citizens and residents to "remain calm and head to the nearest safe place".
US: Democrats stall crucial defence budget in protest against Trump policies Submitted by MEE staff on Wed, 07/15/2026 - 21:07 While different lawmakers had different motivations, the president's approach to Iran and Israel is proving increasingly unpopular A view of the US Capitol dome in Washington, DC on 13 July 2026 (Al Drago/Reuters) Off In rare pushback against a must-pass annual defence budget bill, Democrats in the US Senate on Tuesday collectively voted not to advance the legislation, largely in protest the Trump administration's approaches to Iran and Israel. The bill includes a $1. 1 trillion request for the Pentagon, $41b for the Department of Energy's nuclear arms management, and $11b for other defence-related issues.
Trump says Iran 'wants to settle' as he boasts of new strikes US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Iran "wants to settle", adding that he would decide whether or not to take that step. "We'll have Iran defeated soon. They'll be defeated very soon," Trump said in remarks Fighting has flared between the two sides despite an agreement to extend their spring ceasefire and conduct peace talks.
US launches new wave of strikes on Iran, as blasts heard near Erbil consulate The US launched a new wave of strikes on Iran on Wednesday evening, as blasts were reported near the US consulate in Erbil, in Iraq's semiautonomous Kurdistan region. The US targeted "Iranian military capabilities used to threaten vessels freely transiting through the Strait of Hormuz," Centcom said on X. Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps said they targeted the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, where the military said it had intercepted attacks against civilian targets, while Jordan's armed forces said they had downed three missiles from the Islamic republic.
'Textbook infringement': Palestine advocacy groups sue for immediate halt to Trump's ICC sanctions Submitted by MEE staff on Wed, 07/15/2026 - 18:41 The executive order not only sanctioned the court's judges but also threatened anyone liaising with it US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stands behind President Donald Trump as he speaks to the media at the end of his participation in the Nato leaders summit in Ankara, Turkey, on 8 July 2026 (Yves Herman/Reuters) Off Advocates for Palestinian rights in the US filed a lawsuit in a New York City federal court on Wednesday, seeking an injunction to stop the Trump administration's enforcement of sanctions against groups or individuals liaising with the International Criminal Court (ICC). Democracy for the Arab World Now (Dawn), founded by the late Middle East Eye columnist Jamal Khashoggi, as well as the Taxpayer Alliance Against Genocide (Taag), said they felt compelled to immediately go to court after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrote in an opinion piece earlier this week that the US is willing to dismantle the ICC "brick by brick". In the early weeks of his presidency, President Donald Trump signed Executive Order 14203 , granting US officials the power to impose sanctions on foreigners for supporting the ICC's investigations into US and Israeli nationals for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.
US rights group calls on UN to impose arms embargo on UAE Submitted by Victoria Amani Mwaniki Kishoiyian on Wed, 07/15/2026 - 18:49 Dawn says the UAE is complicit in what UN experts have found to be a genocide committed in Sudan's el-Fasher A view of damaged tanks in front of the Central Bank of Sudan building after the Sudanese army deepened its control over Khartoum from the Rapid Support Forces, in Khartoum, Sudan, on 27 April 2025 (El Tayeb Siddig/Reuters) Off Democracy for the Arab World Now (Dawn) has called on United Nations member states to impose an immediate arms embargo on the United Arab Emirates, arguing that its aid to Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) makes it complicit in atrocities that UN investigations conclude amount to genocide. The appeal demands that the UN General Assembly convene an emergency session, and comes a week after a UN fact-finding mission for Sudan warned that abuses of humanitarian law and attacks on critical infrastructure unfolding in el-Obeid echo the assault on el-Fasher. “The international community still has a window of opportunity to prevent further atrocity crimes,” expert mission member Mona Rishmawi said.
