US-Iran war live: CENTCOM hits Iran for eighth night; Iran suspends MoU, GCC-EU demand open strait; Latest updates

Bahrain says it intercepted new Iranian strikes on Sunday

Bahrain’s Defence Force said Iran is continuing a systematic pattern of hostility through attacks targeting civilians in the kingdom. It said its air defence systems intercepted and destroyed a number of Iranian strikes on Sunday, July 19, and affirmed that all its forces remain at the highest level of readiness to defend the country.

The Defence Force urged the public to remain cautious and avoid approaching any strange or suspicious debris from the attack, reporting it immediately, and said the Royal Field Engineering Unit is fully ready to safely handle such material to ensure public safety.

It reiterated that deliberately using missiles and drones to target civilians and private property is a blatant violation of international humanitarian law, and expressed pride in its forces’ readiness and vigilance in performing their national duty.

Kuwait power station hit for second time in two days

Kuwait’s Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy said one of its power generation and water desalination stations was struck for the second time within two days amid Iran’s ongoing aggression against the country, sparking a fire in parts of the facility and damaging a large number of power generation units.

The ministry said it has activated emergency plans and continues firefighting and repair operations, calling on the public to conserve electricity consumption during this exceptional period.

UAE calls for immediate end to hostilities, restraint

The UAE expressed deep concern over the region’s recent developments, calling for an immediate halt to the escalation and urging efforts to avoid worsening tensions and instability.

It called for maximum restraint to avoid dangerous consequences and prevent the region from being drawn into further violence and instability.

The UAE called for an immediate end to hostilities and a swift return to negotiations, stressing the importance of ensuring safe and uninterrupted navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, which it described as vital to the global economy.

It emphasised that targeting civilian infrastructure – including schools, universities, hospitals, desalination plants, energy facilities, transportation hubs, and residential areas – constitutes a flagrant and serious violation of established international law that cannot be accepted or justified under any circumstances.

GCC, EU condemn Iranian attacks, demand strait remain open unconditionally

The Gulf Cooperation Council and European Union condemned Iran’s attacks on regional countries and vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, stressing that freedom of navigation through the strait is protected under international law.

In a joint statement from the High-Level Forum on Regional Security and Cooperation in Brussels, the two blocs said that under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, ships of all states enjoy rights of passage that cannot be suspended, obstructed or conditioned by any state.

The statement strongly condemned Iran’s attacks on commercial vessels and the sovereign territories of Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, the UAE, Oman and Jordan, saying these attacks endangered civilians and sailors and violated international law and UN Security Council Resolution 2817, calling them entirely unjustified.

The GCC and EU rejected any claims of sovereignty or control over the strait as illegitimate, and opposed any system of clearances, transit tolls or service exchanges for international shipping. They affirmed that no bilateral agreement or memorandum between states can lawfully restrict the right of passage through an international strait, a right guaranteed to all states and not subject to any single state’s control.

Both sides reaffirmed full solidarity with the affected countries and with sailors of all nationalities put at risk, saying any attack on one nation’s security concerns all who depend on the waterway.

They called on Iran to immediately and unconditionally halt all attacks and interference with maritime navigation, keep the strait open without conditions or fees, and fully comply with international law and Resolution 2817. They also rejected any unilateral or unlawful arrangement affecting the safety of passage, stressing the importance of operating within relevant international and regional maritime institutions, particularly the International Maritime Organization.

The GCC and EU said they intend to strengthen coordination to protect freedom of navigation, commercial shipping and sailors, and to support lasting peace and security in the region in line with international law and the UN Charter, while calling for restraint and reaffirming their commitment to diplomacy as the path to resolving the crisis.

CENTCOM completes eighth night of strikes, hits IRGC forces tied to Jordan attack

US Central Command said it completed another round of strikes on Iran at 11:30 p.m. ET on July 18, at the direction of the Commander in Chief.

During the eighth consecutive night of strikes, CENTCOM said its forces hit Iranian coastal surveillance and air defense facilities, maritime capabilities, and missile and drone storage sites to continue degrading Iran’s military capabilities.

It said American forces also targeted IRGC units responsible for launching attacks on US service members in Jordan on July 17. CENTCOM noted that more than 50,000 US troops remain deployed across the Middle East, staying highly vigilant, focused, lethal, and ready.

Kuwait air defences confronting new Iranian missile, drone attacks

Kuwait’s General Staff of the Army said its air defences are currently confronting hostile missile and drone attacks following what it called sinful Iranian aggression.

It said any explosion sounds heard are the result of air defence systems intercepting the attacks, and asked everyone to follow the safety and security instructions issued by the relevant authorities.