US-Iran war live: U.S launches new wave of Iran strikes; Kuwait, Bahrain face drone attacks; Latest updates

Bahrain says it intercepted new Iranian strikes on Thursday

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 Thursday, July 16, 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.

Jordan intercepts eight Iranian missiles early Thursday

A senior military official at Jordan’s Armed Forces said its air defence systems intercepted and shot down eight Iranian missiles targeting the Kingdom early Thursday morning.

The official said the interceptions followed established defensive protocols aimed at protecting Jordan’s sovereignty, airspace and citizens, and reported no casualties or damage. Royal Engineering Corps teams secured and cleared missile debris from several locations.

Iran says it struck US radar, air defense systems in Kuwait, Bahrain

Iran’s Army said that in the tenth phase of its “Sa’eqeh” (thunderbolt) operation, it used Arash kamikaze drones to target radar and air defense systems belonging to the US military in Kuwait and Bahrain.

It said the targeted systems included a Patriot battery that had been protecting the base along with transport aircraft and advanced drones such as the MQ-9.

In a separate wave, it said drone strikes hit communication and radar systems – including Super Hawk radars – as well as facilities and Patriot systems at the US military’s defense site at Bahrain’s Sheikh Isa Air Base.

Oil prices edge higher on Middle East tensions

Oil prices settled slightly higher on Wednesday amid ongoing Middle East tensions and concerns over supply disruptions.

Brent Crude rose $0.22 to settle at $84.95 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate edged up $0.26 to settle at $79.60 a barrel.

Bahrain sounds sirens, urges public to seek shelter

Bahrain’s Interior Ministry said it activated sirens and urged citizens and residents to remain calm and head to the nearest safe place.

Trump: Iran releases wrongfully detained American, now safe

President Donald Trump said Iran has allowed the release of an American citizen who was wrongfully detained in December 2024 under the Biden administration, saying she is now safely outside Iran and in good condition.

He said the US appreciates the gesture of goodwill from Iran.

Baqaei: Iran “cannot be fragmented,” rejects “South of Iran” framing

Head of Center for Public Diplomacy and Spokesperson Ministry of Foreign Affairs Esmaeil Baqaei said those who deliberately refer to the “South of Iran” are trying to create an image of the country defined by geographic coordinates, arguing that Iran cannot be divided by geography or split apart with words.

He described Iran as a single body and unified soul, with every part of its land – from its mountains to its seas, its shores to its deserts – belonging to one Iran.

He called the country a heart as vast as history, wounded but never ceasing to beat, saying every Iranian views every part of the land as that same heart, held with deep affection for their resilient homeland.

He closed by invoking a classical verse casting Iran as the heart of the world, nobler than the body it belongs to.

US disables tanker heading to Iran in first blockade enforcement

US forces enforced the naval blockade against Iran on July 15 by disabling an unladen oil tanker attempting to sail toward an Iranian port.

CENTCOM said it observed the Curacao-flagged M/T Belma transiting international waters toward Kharg Island, ignoring multiple warnings as it tried to breach the blockade, prompting a US aircraft to disable the vessel by firing Hellfire missiles into its smokestack. The tanker is no longer heading to Iran.

CENTCOM said the blockade on vessels traveling to or from Iranian ports and coastal areas took effect at 4 p.m. ET on July 14, and that in its first 24 hours, forces redirected two compliant commercial vessels and disabled one non-compliant vessel. It said US forces remain vigilant and prepared to ensure full compliance.

Kuwait air defences confront new Iranian drone attacks

Kuwait’s General Staff of the Army said its air defences are currently confronting hostile 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 security and safety instructions issued by the relevant authorities.

Trump says US will ‘take out’ Pickaxe Mountain in Iran

President Donald Trump said the US would strike Pickaxe Mountain, a fortified Iranian site near the damaged Natanz enrichment facility, warning Iran to “be ready.”

In an interview on the Hugh Hewitt Show, he said the US is watching the site closely, sees no activity there, and claimed Iran’s nuclear program isn’t going well, adding that the US “blows up” any progress it detects. He said Washington would likely strike the site “relatively soon.”

Pickaxe Mountain hosts two deeply buried tunnel complexes that experts say are beyond the reach of even the most powerful US bunker-buster bombs.

Trump also said earlier that day that the US was reinstating its blockade on Iranian shipping in the Gulf and would keep the Strait of Hormuz open – for a fee – following a fresh exchange of missile and drone attacks between the two sides.

He added that the US would “hit them very hard tonight” and again the following day, saying there was “not a damn thing” Iran could do about it.