Shows smoke rising from the site of Israeli airstrikes that targeted the village of Rmadiyeh in the Tyre district of southern Lebanon. (AFP/FILE)
This live blog follows the latest developments across the Middle East crisis, including regional diplomacy, maritime security, ceasefire negotiations, and economic fallout.
Catch up: Yesterday’s top developments
Pakistan, UK Discuss Regional Peace Amid US-Iran Developments :FO
Published: July 9, 2026 | 16:06 GMT | by Web Desk
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and British High Commissioner to Pakistan Jane Marriott discussed the evolving regional situation, including the recent US-Iran developments, the Foreign Office said.
"The British High Commissioner appreciated Pakistan’s role in promoting regional peace and stability," the statement added.
During the discussion, FM Dar highlighted Pakistan’s constructive mediation efforts in support of dialogue, diplomacy and de-escalation.
Israel says ready to attack Iran for 'third time if necessary'
Published: July 9, 2026 | 16:06 GMT | by AFP
Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz on Thursday said his country was prepared to resume its military campaign against Iran if needed, vowing to do so "with even greater force".
"The army is ready and on alert for a resumption of fighting, in order to regain air superiority and strike again... in Iran, to eliminate threats, including a third time if necessary. If we have to go back, we will go back, with even greater force," Katz said at a military ceremony.
Death toll from Israel’s genocide in Gaza rises
Published: July 9, 2026 | 15:54 GMT | by Web Desk
At least 73,118 Palestinians have been killed and 173,615 wounded since Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza began in October 2023, AL Jazeera reported quoting Gaza’s Health Ministry.
Since a US-brokered “ceasefire” was put in place last October, 1,092 Palestinians have been killed and 3,507 wounded by Israeli forces across the besieged enclave.
Jordan's military says intercepted 8 missiles fired from Iran
Published: July 9, 2026 | 14:36 GMT | by AFP
The Jordanian military said it intercepted eight missiles fired from Iran on Thursday, while the Islamic republic said it targeted a US base there amid a new exchange of strikes between Tehran and Washington.
"Jordanian air defence systems intercepted and shot down, today, Thursday, eight missiles that were launched from Iran toward Jordanian territory," the military said in a statement.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they struck the US's "command-and-control centre in West Asia and the enemy air base in Al-Azraq, Jordan, with 10 ballistic missiles".
It added that "if the terrorist US military repeats its aggression, the other US bases in the region will not be safe from our heavy fire".
The missile fire came on a second consecutive day of tit-for-tat barrages between the US and Iran, including scores of US strikes on Iran, testing a fragile ceasefire as the foes battle over the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Iran shipped out 10 million barrels of crude, fuel oil overnight
Published: July 9, 2026 | 13:37 GMT | by Web Desk
Iran shipped out at least 10 million barrels of crude oil and fuel oil overnight, apparently anticipating a possible imminent resumption of the US Navy blockade, AL Jazeera reported.
The US took the decision after Iran attacked commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and responded with a series of strikes on Tehran’s military infrastructure over the past 48 hours.
At least 8 Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks over the past day
Published: July 9, 2026 | 13:04 GMT | by Web Desk
Eight Palestinians were killed and 17 wounded in Israeli attacks over the past 24 hours across the Gaza Strip, AL Jazeera reported.
The Health Ministry said rescue and civil defence teams remained unable to reach additional victims still trapped under rubble or lying on roads.
Since the “ceasefire” took effect last October, at least 1,092 Palestinians have been killed and 3,507 wounded by Israel’s occupying military, according to AL Jazeera.
Iran official says US strike targeted perimeter of nuclear plant: state media
Published: July 9, 2026 | 12:16 GMT | by AFP
The United States targeted the perimeter of Iran's only civilian nuclear plant with a strike on Thursday, Iranian state media reported, citing the deputy governor of Bushehr province.
"Several areas in Bushehr province were targeted today, including the perimeter of the nuclear power plant, a military base in the town of Choghadak and a fishing pier in the south of the province," Ehsan Jahanian said, adding there were no reports of casualties so far.
It came after residents of Choghadak, which sits a little more than 20 kilometres (12 miles) from the Bushehr plant, reported hearing several explosions.
Strikes have previously landed near the power station during the Middle East war.
In April, the UN's nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, warned that attacks near the plant "pose a very real danger to nuclear safety and must stop".
Several explosions heard in Bushehr province: Iran media
Published: July 9, 2026 | 10:47 GMT | by AFP
Several explosions heard in Bushehr province, AFP reported, quoting Iranian media.
Qatari PM, UAE deputy PM review latest regional developments
Published: July 9, 2026 | 09:23 GMT | by Web Desk
Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, in a telephonic conversation with the deputy prime minister of the UAE Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Thursday has "affirmed the necessity for all parties to commit to dialogue and diplomacy, and to implement what has been agreed upon within the framework of the memorandum of understanding, in a manner that contributes to preserving regional security, safeguarding the gains achieved, and enhancing regional stability."
During the call, they reviewed the latest developments in the military escalation between the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran over the past two days, said a post on X shared by Qatari Foreign Ministry.
One injured in latest Iran attack on Kuwait: Ministry
Published: July 9, 2026 | 09:23 GMT | by AFP
At least one person was injured on Tuesday, Kuwait's defense ministry said, following the latest Iranian attack on the country.
"The injured individual is receiving the necessary medical care and is in stable condition," defense ministry spokesman Colonel Staff Saud Abdulaziz Al-Atwan said, adding that four missiles and 10 drones had been "successfully intercepted and neutralized" at dawn.
Explosions heard in Bahrain's Manama as sirens activated: AFP correspondent
Published: July 9, 2026 | 08:53 GMT | by AFP
An AFP correspondent in the Bahraini capital Manama heard explosions on Thursday as air-raid sirens were activated for a third time, hours after Iranian attacks in the night.
"The siren has been sounded... Citizens and residents are urged to remain calm and head to the nearest safe place," the interior ministry said in a post on X.
Qatari PM stresses dialogue, diplomacy in call with Iran FM
Published: July 9, 2026 | 08:23 GMT | by Web Desk
Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani has "stressed the necessity for all parties to commit to dialogue and diplomacy, and to implement what has been agreed upon within the framework of the memorandum of understanding, in a manner that contributes to preserving regional security, safeguarding the gains achieved, and enhancing regional stability."
The Qatari prime minister said this in a telephonic conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, according to a statement shared on X by Qatari Foreign Ministry on Thursday.
Iran health ministry says 14 killed in two days of US strikes
Published: July 9, 2026 | 08:05 GMT | by AFP
Two days of US strikes against Iran have killed 14 people and left 78 injured, Tehran's health ministry said on Thursday.
"Of the injured, 47 are still hospitalized and the rest have been discharged after receiving medical care," Hossein Kermanpour, the ministry's head of public relations posted on X.
Khamenei coffin arrives in Mashhad ahead of burial: State media
Published: July 9, 2026 | 08:03 GMT | by AFP
A plane carrying the coffin of assassinated Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei landed in the eastern holy city of Mashhad on Thursday, ahead of his burial, state media reported.
Official news agency IRNA shared footage of the Mahan Air flight taxiing at the airport after landing in Khamenei's home city. He was transferred from Iraq, where ceremonies took place in the holy cities of Najaf and Karbala.
Iran's Tehran-Mashhad railway suspended after US strikes: State TV
Published: July 9, 2026 | 05:35 GMT | by AFP
The train service between Tehran and Mashhad has been suspended after US strikes, state TV reported, hours before assassinated supreme leader Ali Khamenei was due to be buried in the eastern Iranian holy city.
The Islamic Republic of Iran Railways blamed "a criminal attack by the US-Israeli enemy" on the route and said it had dispatched teams to repair the damage, the state broadcaster reported, adding that road transport was being arranged for stranded passengers.
Bullying, breaking promises no longer cost-free: Iranian speaker
Published: July 9, 2026 | 05:30 GMT | by Web Desk
Iranian Parliament Speaker Baqer Ghalibaf in a post on X on Thursday stated, "America still hasn’t learned that bullying and breaking promises are no longer cost-free."
"Let me put it plainly: if you strike, you’ll get hit," he wrote.
"Don’t flail around pointlessly, or you’ll sink even deeper: the Strait of Hormuz will only open with “Iranian arrangements,” not American threats," the Iranian speaker posted.
US strikes kill three in western Iran: Iranian state media
Published: July 9, 2026 | 05:09 GMT | by AFP
US strikes on Iran killed three people and wounded several others in the country's west, official news agency IRNA reported on Thursday, quoting a local official.
Valiollah Hayati, the deputy governor of Khuzestan for security and law enforcement, told reporters that three people were killed and several wounded in the American attack on the outskirts of city of Ahvaz, the IRNA report said.
US forces complete another round of strikes against Iran: CENTCOM
Published: July 9, 2026 | 05:01 GMT | by Web Desk
US Central Command (CENTCOM) forces completed an additional round of strikes against Iran, July 8, said a post shared by US CENTCOM on X on Thursday.
The post said the strikes were carried out "to further degrade Iran's ability to attack commercial shipping and innocent civilian mariners in the Strait of Hormuz."
Latest strikes hit 90 military targets in Iran: US military
Published: July 9, 2026 | 04:21 GMT | by AFP
US military officials said Wednesday that approximately 90 Iranian military targets were hit in their latest strikes, targeting air defense systems, missile and drone storage sites, and other assets.
The United States "completed an additional round of strikes against Iran, July 8, to further degrade Iran's ability to attack commercial shipping and innocent civilian mariners in the Strait of Hormuz," according to a statement posted to X by US Central Command (CENTCOM).
Strait of Hormuz will only open with 'Iranian arrangements,' not American threats: Ghalibaf
Published: July 9, 2026 | 01:32 GMT | by Web Desk
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said the United States "still hasn’t learned that bullying and breaking promises are no longer cost-free."
"Let me put it plainly: if you strike, you’ll get hit," Ghalibaf said.
He also said, "Don’t flail around pointlessly, or you’ll sink even deeper: the Strait of Hormuz will only open with 'Iranian arrangements,' not American threats."
Explosions heard in Bahrain after air raid sirens
Published: July 9, 2026 | 01:06 GMT | by AFP
Explosions were heard in Bahrain's capital on Thursday, an AFP correspondent in Manama said, moments after authorities sounded air raid sirens to warn of an attack.
The blasts followed a vow from Iran's Revolutionary Guards that they would "give a devastating response" to fresh American strikes on the Islamic republic's territory.
Kuwait says responding to 'hostile' missile, drone attacks
Published: July 9, 2026 | 00:57 GMT | by AFP
Kuwait's air defenses were intercepting "hostile missile and drone attacks," its military said on Thursday.
"The General Staff of the Army notes that any explosions heard are a result of air defense systems intercepting hostile attacks," the Kuwait military said in a post on X, without specifying their origin.
Islamabad urges all sides to uphold commitments
Published: July 9, 2026 | 00:00 GMT | by Web Desk
Pakistan on Wednesday urged all parties to honor their commitments under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) after a sharp escalation in US-Iran hostilities over the past 24 hours threatened the diplomatic framework that ended more than three months of conflict.
The appeal came after the United States launched multiple rounds of strikes on Iranian military targets, saying the operations were aimed at degrading Tehran's ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran responded with missile and drone attacks targeting US military facilities in Bahrain and Kuwait, while President Donald Trump declared the ceasefire "over," warned that future US bombing would "get much worse" if attacks on shipping continued, and ordered additional strikes against Iran.
Despite the renewed fighting, a US military official later said Iran's latest attacks caused no American casualties or major damage, while Qatar and China joined Pakistan in calling for restraint and a return to diplomacy.
In a statement, Pakistan's Foreign Office expressed "deep concern" over the renewed escalation, saying another conflict was "in no one's interest" and urging all sides to exercise restraint.
"There is no alternative to continued engagement, dialogue and diplomacy to achieve the shared goal of peace in the region," the Foreign Office said.
Islamabad also called on all parties to uphold their commitments under the Islamabad MoU, describing it as "an enduring foundation for understanding, mutual respect and shared prosperity for the region and beyond," and reaffirmed Pakistan's readiness to continue facilitating dialogue aimed at preserving regional peace and stability.
For earlier developments, read our July 8 live blog here
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