US strikes Iran as Tehran warns of Mideast reprisals

This live blog follows the latest developments across the Middle East crisis, including regional diplomacy, maritime security, ceasefire negotiations, and economic fallout.

Catch up on Thursday's top developments here:

• US strikes in Iran hit bridges and an airport: Iranian state media
• Iran talking to US, very much wants to make a deal: White House
• Qatar rejects Israeli media reports alleging agreement to military action against Iran
• US ‘seeks to hit Iran and advance its interests’: Ghalibaf
• Iran slams 'barbaric' US attack after hospital evacuated due to nearby strike

Strikes kill nine Iranian Kurdish rebels in Iraq: opposition group

Published: July 17, 2026 | 20:36 GMT | by Web Desk 

Drone and rocket strikes killed nine members of an Iranian Kurdish armed opposition group in Iraq's Kurdistan region on Friday, the exiled party said, blaming the attack on Iran.

In Erbil, the capital of Kurdistan, the US-led anti-jihadist coalition shot down several drones and AFP journalists heard loud explosions in the city.

The attacks, which the Kurdish government also blamed on Tehran, come against the backdrop of renewed military escalation between the United States and Iran, Iraq's main allies.

During the Middle East war, the Kurdistan region, which hosts US troops and foreign oil companies as well as exiled Iranian Kurdish rebels, has been a target for attacks carried out by Iran and pro-Iran Iraqi armed groups.

Idriss Kohlwazi from the exiled Komala Party of Iranian Kurdistan told AFP: "The Iranian regime attacked at 04:30 am (0130 GMT) with drones and rockets a camp."

Senior Iranian advisor warns of 'full-scale offensive' if US strikes continue

Published: July 17, 2026 | 19:48 GMT | by Web Desk 

Tehran is ready to resume "full-scale offensive operations" if US strikes against it continue for another two or three days, a senior military advisor to Iran's supreme leader warned Friday.

"Iran will no longer limit itself to retaliatory, like-for-like responses ... and no political border will be safe," Major General Mohsen Rezaei said, according to the Iranian news agency IRIB.

Iranian FM mourns three killed in US strike on bridge in Bandar Khamir

Published: July 17, 2026 | 19:30 GMT | by Web Desk 

Iran’s foreign minister says the three people killed while crossing the bridge were “completely innocent”.

“We will never allow their pure blood to be trampled upon”, Abbas Araghchi said on his official Telegram account.

“We will defend every inch of this land until our last breath.”

UN chief condemns attacks on civilian infrastructure in Iran, Gulf states

Published: July 17, 2026 | 18:15 GMT | by Web Desk

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called attacks on civilian infrastructure in Iran and elsewhere in the Gulf “unacceptable”, according to his spokesman.

IRGC claims shooting down US drone in Khuzestan

Published: July 17, 2026 | 17:22GMT | by Web Desk

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard says it has shot down a US RQ-11 drone in Khuzestan province, according to a statement carried by state media.

The drone was intercepted and shot down by light weaponry used by Basij Corps, in the city of Ramshir in Khuzestan.

The AeroVironment RQ-11 Raven, is a small hand-launched remote-controlled drone, operated by the US military.

Gaza health officials say Israeli airstrike near market kills 8 

Published: July 17, 2026 | 16:40 GMT | by AFP 

Gaza health officials said an Israeli airstrike on Friday killed eight people near a market in a central part of the territory.

According to the civil defence agency, "eight individuals were killed" at the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza. The territory's Al-Awda hospital confirmed receiving their bodies.

CENTCOM says forces destroyed Iranian surveillance tower

Published: July 17, 2026 | 14:30 GMT | by Web Desk 

US Central Command (CENTCOM) has said that the US forces destroyed the Chah Bahar Shahid Kalantari Port surveillance tower, part of a maritime surveillance network along Iran’s Gulf of Oman coastline. 

In a statement, it said that the network was used for decades by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to track and target commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz. 

“The destruction of the tower directly degrades IRGC’s ability to coordinate attacks on innocent civilian crew members,” he said, adding that the “strike protects freedom of navigation in regional waters for all vessels, except for ships attempting to violate the ongoing US naval blockade against Iran.”

US CENTCOM rejects Iranian claims of attack on al-Tanf Garrison in Syria

Published: July 17, 2026 | 14:04 GMT | by Web Desk 

US Central Command (CENTCOM) has rejected claims by Iranian forces that they attacked the al-Tanf Garrison in Syria and captured or killed American troops during the operation.

In a statement, CENTCOM described the claim as "false."

The command said no US troops in the region have recently been killed or captured.

Iran to continue attacks until strikes around south, Hormuz stop: Guards commander

Published: July 17, 2026 | 12:43 GMT | by AFP

The commander of the Aerospace Force in Iran's Revolutionary Guards vowed Friday that Tehran would not halt its attacks in the region until the US stopped striking Iran's southern coastline and the Strait of Hormuz.

In a social media post, Majid Mousavi said "Tehran and the south are one and indivisible as Iran", adding that "effective and targeted strikes from across Iran against the enemy will continue" until attacks on "the southern coastline and the Strait of Hormuz" cease.

Kuwait says Iranian missile and drone attack hit distillation plants, power stations

Published: July 17, 2026 | 10:53 GMT | by Web Desk

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Kuwait strongly condemned what it described as a “heinous Iranian aggression” involving missiles and drones that targeted Kuwaiti territory.

In a statement, the ministry said the attack struck one of the country’s power stations and water distillation plants, causing a fire and damaging a number of electrical power generation units. It described the attack as a flagrant violation of Kuwait’s sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity, as well as a grave breach of international law, international humanitarian law, the United Nations Charter, and United Nations Security Council Resolution 2817 of 2026.

The ministry said the continuation of such actions constitutes an extremely dangerous escalation that threatens regional security and stability, represents a brazen challenge to international legitimacy, and undermines efforts aimed at de-escalation and achieving peaceful solutions.

The statement further emphasized that the State of Kuwait has the inherent right to take the necessary measures to preserve its sovereignty and maintain its security and stability in accordance with the provisions of international law.

Iran Guards say attacked US base in Qatar to 'punish aggressor'

Published: July 17, 2026 | 11:30 GMT | by AFP

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said Friday that they had targeted US radar systems and military aircraft in Qatar to "punish the aggressor" following overnight US strikes on Iran.

"In continuation of last night's retaliatory operations, the brave fighters of the IRGC's Aerospace Force... carried out a heavy and surprise attack on the US airbase at al-Udeid, Qatar, to punish the aggressor and the child-killing US military," the IRGC said in a statement.

Israel is using US taxpayer dollars to silence any US critics: Iran FM

Published: July 17, 2026 | 10:49 GMT | by Web Desk

Iran Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, while sharing a Time Magazine article titled, “Trump's Ex-Campaign Manager Is Running An Israeli Influence Operation Targeting the MAGA Base” on X on Friday, wrote: “Americans are being warned of Foreign Influence. How about the extensive Israeli Campaign to bamboozle the U.S. Administration into an unwinnable war of choice?”

“Even worse: Israel is using U.S. taxpayer dollars to silence any U.S. critics,” he wrote.

“It will all soon unravel,” the Iranian foreign minister added.

Iran urges citizens to cut electricity use after US strikes

Published: July 17, 2026 | 10:15 GMT | by AFP

Iran's energy ministry called on citizens to reduce electricity use on Friday after the power grid came under strain following US strikes on energy infrastructure in the south.

The ministry in a statement urged people to switch off air conditioners in peak hours "to help ensure a stable electricity supply in the southern provinces, which are currently facing extreme heat and attacks on electricity supply facilities".

Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar report Iranian attacks

Published: July 17, 2026 | 10:15 GMT | by AFP

Kuwait reported an Iranian attack on a power and water plant on Friday, while Bahrain and Qatar also said they had intercepted missiles after the US bombed Iran for the sixth consecutive night.

"One of the power and water distillation plants was the target of an attack as part of the Iranian aggression... resulting in a fire, damage, and the impairment of several production units," the Kuwaiti electricity ministry said in a statement.

It called on users "to ration their electricity consumption during this exceptional period".

Iran said that in response to the US strikes it had sent drones to Kuwait to target "the deployment sites of US forces and the logistical support centers of the 'terrorist' and 'child-killing' US military", state TV reported.

"The attacks were in response to the crimes of the arrogant enemy and in revenge for the blood of the martyrs of the homeland," it added.

Elsewhere, the Bahraini military stated that it had "intercepted and destroyed several Iranian aerial attacks."

An AFP journalist in Manama, the kingdom's capital, reported hearing several explosions overnight after warning sirens were triggered.

Iranian state media reported that Tehran had targeted US helicopters and planes at an airbase there.

In Qatar, the defense ministry said the army intercepted a missile attack, with AFP journalists in the capital Doha hearing several blasts.

A child was injured by falling debris resulting from the missile interception, the interior ministry later reported.

Iran Guards say struck US aircraft in Jordan with missiles, drones

Published: July 17, 2026 | 08:55 GMT | by AFP

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said Friday they had struck US military aircraft stationed in Jordan with ballistic missiles and drones in retaliation for overnight US strikes.

In a statement, they claimed to have destroyed "several US refueling aircraft and fighter jets" and caused "serious damage to many more". 

They also called on Jordanians to target "the interests of the aggressive and anti-Islamic Americans" in their country.

Tanker hit by 'unknown projectile' off Oman coast: UK maritime agency

Published: July 17, 2026 | 08:30 GMT | by AFP

A tanker was struck by a projectile off the coast of Oman, the UK Maritime Trade Operations agency said on Friday, as Iran and the United States exchanged fire over control of the Strait of Hormuz.

"A tanker has reported being hit by an unknown projectile causing minor structural damage to the port side," the British organization said in a statement, reporting that it took place overnight and that all crew were safe and accounted for.

Overnight US attacks killed eight Iranians, injured 20: State media

Published: July 17, 2026 | 07:45 GMT | by AFP

Iranian state media reported Friday that overnight US strikes on infrastructure in southern and western Iran killed eight people and wounded 20 others.

"Some infrastructure in several provinces of the country came under US military attack," the IRNA news agency said, reporting that six bridges in the southern province of Hormozgan were targeted.

US coalition downs drones over Iraq's Erbil: Kurdish forces

Published: July 17, 2026 | 07:30 GMT | by AFP

The US-led coalition shot down several drones on Friday over Erbil, the capital of Iraq's northern Kurdistan region, Kurdish forces said, in the second such incident in the city this week.

Kurdish counterterrorism forces said that "coalition forces downed eight explosive-laden drones over Erbil between 04:19 and 05:25 am (0119 and 0225 GMT)", with no damage or casualties reported.

Iran says 38 killed, more than 400 injured in US strikes since June 22

Published: July 17, 2026 | 07:01 GMT | by AFP

Iran's health ministry said Friday that at least 38 people had been killed and more than 400 injured in the country since fighting resumed with the United States.

"The number of injured from US attacks has exceeded 400, and 38 compatriots have been martyred" since June 22, ministry spokesman Hossein Kermanpour posted on X. 

"Among them are 22 injured women, three martyred women, nine injured under the age of 18, and one martyr under 18."

Iran Guards say struck US radar sites in Oman 

Published: July 17, 2026 | 06:01 GMT | by AFP

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said Friday they had struck two radar sites belonging to the United States in the Gulf sultanate of Oman.

A statement said their forces "targeted and destroyed the maritime surveillance radar at the Salamah Rocks and the US air surveillance radar stationed in the Ghanam area".

Jordan's military says intercepted three Iranian missiles

Published: July 17, 2026 | 05:55 GMT | by AFP

Jordan's military said it shot down three Iranian missiles on Friday, reporting no casualties or damage, as the war in the Middle East escalated.

"This Friday morning, air defense systems intercepted three Iranian missiles that entered Jordanian airspace and were targeting the kingdom's territory, and managed to intercept and bring them down," said a military statement.

US strikes Iran as Tehran warns of Mideast reprisals

Published: July 17, 2026 | 04:25 GMT | by AFP

The United States hit Iran on Friday, with Tehran accusing US forces of striking civilian sites and drawing Iranian threats of reprisals on regional infrastructure.

A battle over the strategic Strait of Hormuz has rekindled the war in the Middle East and the foes have traded fire for six days running.

The US military reported hitting "dozens of Iranian military targets" in response to attacks on commercial shipping, its latest strikes after a preliminary deal with Tehran fell apart.

Early on Friday Iran announced attacks on an airport and railway station in Iran, and strikes on two bridges that killed seven people.

"I officially declare that if the Americans strike the infrastructure of the Islamic Republic, then all infrastructure across the region will become legitimate targets for Iran," Iranian state TV quoted a senior armed forces spokesperson as saying late Thursday.

Blasts heard in Qatar capital Doha: AFP

Published: July 17, 2026 | 02:37 GMT | by AFP

AFP journalists in Doha reported hearing several blasts early Friday, as Iran attacked US allies in the renewed Middle East war.

A public safety alert warned the security threat level was "elevated" and urged residents to take shelter.

Kuwait says responding to missile, drone attacks

Published: July 17, 2026 | 00:47 GMT | by Web Desk

Kuwait said Friday it was responding to missile and drone attacks, a day after the Gulf nation faced aerial attacks from Iran.

"Kuwaiti air defenses are currently engaging hostile missiles and drone attacks following the nefarious Iranian aggression," the army wrote on X.

In Bahrain, the interior ministry said that a siren had been sounded, urging citizens to take shelter.

Iranian state media said the Islamic republic's army was targeting US helicopters and planes at an air base in Bahrain "in response to the enemy's hostile action in targeting urban infrastructure and innocent people."

US strikes in Iran hit bridges and an airport: Iranian state media

Published: July 16, 2026 | 21:37 GMT | by Web Desk

US strikes overnight hit an airport and two bridges in southern Iran near the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian state media said Friday.

"Three explosions were heard around the airport and at least one American enemy projectile hit Iranshahr airport," in the southeast, state television IRIB said on Telegram. Another report spoke of airstrikes on two bridges near the village of Kohourestan and the Shor River in Bandar Khamir County.

For earlier developments, read our July 16 live blog here.