Israel currently under attack (Page 1030 of 1034)
8:45 PM Eastern
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Robert A. Heinlein, Friday
U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) July 14, 2026 U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) completed the latest wave of strikes against Iran at 10:15 p.m. ET on July 13. During the five-hour mission, U.S. forces successfully struck military targets across Iran including Bushehr, Chah Bahar, Jask, Konarak, Abu Musa, and Bandar Abbas to further degrade Iran's ability to attack commercial shipping. CENTCOM forces employed precision munitions against Iranian coastal defense systems, missile and drone sites, and maritime capabilities. More than 50,000 U.S. service members are currently deployed across the Middle East. American forces remain vigilant, lethal, and ready.
Iran claims it launched ballistic missiles and drones at multiple U.S. military targets in Bahrain and Jordan. In Bahrain, the reported targets included HMS Jufair, facilities linked to the U.S. 5th Fleet, fuel storage, Patriot radar, C RAM systems, early warning infrastructure and an arms depot. Iran also claimed to have struck several major U.S. military bases in Jordan.
Images of the early morning missile strikes by the IRGC Aerospace Force on U.S. bases in the region Fatah and Kheibar Shekan, Fateh 110, and Zulfiqar were fired toward predetermined targets Iran attacked three ships yesterday. UKMTO notices for two of the attacks Attached File Attached File
A Hamas naval commander and three gunmen were killed in separate strikes across Gaza yesterday, the IDF says. In Gaza City, Osama Naim Hamdi Shamlakh, a Hamas naval force cell commander, was killed. He worked throughout the war to rebuild the force and advance attacks "in the maritime domain." A separate strike in northern Gaza killed three armed gunmen the military says were advancing attacks on troops. |
Robert A. Heinlein, Friday
Pickaxe Mtn to be attacked? We have often written about Pickaxe mountain on our website over the last five years. A recurring question over the last year has been why was it not attacked. Trump’s announcement a few hours ago means an attack could happen soon. Pickaxe Mtn is a deeply buried nuclear-related site under construction at the broadly defined Natanz enrichment site. It remains unclear when it could be operational, based on assessing satellite imagery. But Iran said several years ago that the deeply buried halls were slated to hold a large-scale centrifuge assembly facility, estimated to be able to assemble several thousand centrifuges per year. With the destruction of Iran’s centrifuge program, it is unclear if Iran still plans that large-scale assembly facility. Pickaxe Mtn is large enough to also hold a centrifuge enrichment plant and likely large enough to also hold certain nuclear weaponization activities such as making weapon-grade uranium metal and shaping it into nuclear weapon components. Recently, we were told that the site was not attacked in the two previous wars because nothing of sufficient value was inside it. Perhaps that assessment has changed. But just as likely, Trump does not want to leave Iran with a deeply buried nuclear-related site as the regime appears to be sending signals it is starting to rebuild its nuclear weapons capabilities aimed at making nuclear weapons. Stay tuned!
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Iran’s leaders on Tuesday that any renewed attack on Israel would draw a stronger response than before. “Do not count on there being calm if you attack us,” Netanyahu said in a conference in the Negev city of Dimona. “Do not count on this being a repeat. Because it will not be a repeat.” “The last one was powerful enough. This will be something different, more powerful,” he added. Netanyahu said the days when Israel could be attacked without responding “twice as hard” were over.
The Houthis have published a statement warning airlines against operating in Saudi Arabian airspace, stating carriers should "take our warnings seriously" until what they describe as the blockade of Sana'a International Airport is lifted. The message follows yesterday's missile attack by Saudi Arabia targeting Sana'a International Airport and raising tensions in civilian aviation in the region. The Houthis have issued similar aviation threats in the past against Israel. Attached File Attached File
NEW: Oman’s foreign minister: • Long held assumptions about Gulf security, including relations with the United States, should be reassessed. • Called the Iran war “a war that should never have taken place.” • Said Oman will work with Iran to establish a realistic, durable, and international law compliant framework to guarantee freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. • Argued Iran was never an existential threat, claiming “the greatest threats to Gulf security originate outside the region, particularly from Tel Aviv.” • Described the war as “a catastrophe.”
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Robert A. Heinlein, Friday
At 3 p.m. ET today, U.S. Central Command forces began launching an additional round of strikes against Iran to continue degrading Iranian capabilities used to attack commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. The strikes are taking place as American forces prepare to resume the naval blockade against Iranian ports and coastal areas. The blockade goes into effect at 4 p.m. ET.
U.S. forces resumed the naval blockade against vessels transiting to and from Iranian ports and coastal areas today at 4 p.m. ET. There are currently more than 20 U.S. Navy warships and hundreds of military aircraft operating across the Middle East. American forces remain vigilant, lethal, and ready.
6:05 PM Eastern
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Robert A. Heinlein, Friday
New footage has emerged showing U.S. Navy strikes and multiple powerful explosions at the Iranian Army's 388th Mechanized Infantry Brigade near the villages of Rikpot and Kolahdooz in Bampur County. According to local sources, the videos capture repeated explosions and the flashes of multiple impacts within the military base. The blasts were powerful enough to be heard in nearby villages and surrounding areas. The strikes were carried out in several waves, and the newly released footage shows additional moments of the impacts and explosions. Earlier reports indicated that at approximately 00:05 local time, at least eight powerful explosions were heard near Rikpot and Kolahdooz, with local sources stating that the Shahid Heydar Shahraki 388th Mechanized Infantry Brigade was targeted. The extent of the damage and any casualties remains unknown, and Iranian authorities have not yet released an official statement on the strikes. |
Robert A. Heinlein, Friday
U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) July 15, 2026 U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) completed an additional round of strikes against Iran at 10 p.m. ET, July 14, hitting dozens of military targets near the Strait of Hormuz and Iranian coastal areas. U.S. fighter aircraft, drones, and naval vessels launched precision munitions against Iranian missile and drone sites, naval capabilities, and coastal defense systems during the seven-hour wave to further degrade Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping and civilian crews. The strikes took place the same day U.S. forces resumed the naval blockade against vessels transiting to or from Iranian ports and coastal areas. The blockade went into effect at 4 p.m. ET today. U.S. forces remain vigilant, lethal, and prepared to execute operations directed by the Commander in Chief.
5:54 AM Eastern
An Israeli soldier in his mandatory service has been sentenced to five years in prison for carrying out espionage tasks on behalf of Iran, the military announces. The soldier had been convicted of contact with a foreign agent and delivering information liable to benefit the enemy, following a joint investigation by the Military Police, the Israel Police, and Shin Bet. The IDF says that in 2025, the soldier received messages to his Telegram account from various individuals, some of whom were identified with Iran, containing various job offers. One Iranian handler offered the soldier money in exchange for "various photography tasks." The soldier sent the Iranian handler two videos showing missile interceptions that he had filmed at civilian locations, not army bases, during the June 2025 war with Iran, according to the investigation. He received payment for one of the videos. Additionally, the soldier sent the Iranian handler several videos from civilian sites, including one showing a missile impact, that he had found online. "Ultimately, after feeling pressured, the defendant informed a member of his unit that he had been in contact with a foreign agent, and the following day he was arrested by the Shin Bet," the military says. Military prosecutors sought to sentence the soldier to seven years with additional penalties, "emphasizing the severity and risk inherent in the defendant's actions and the need to deter both the defendant and others." In its ruling, the military court took into account that the soldier did not provide military information or any other information obtained through his role in the IDF, as well as the fact that he cut off contact with the Iranian handler and reported the incident to his commanders. The court therefore sentenced him to five years in prison, along with a suspended sentence, a fine of NIS 1,000, and the demotion to the rank of private -- the lowest rank in the IDF. The soldier's identity and the unit he served in remain barred from publication.
Two Hamas commanders in the terror group's Nukhba Force were killed in an Israeli strike in the northern Gaza Strip last night, the military announces. The IDF says the strike killed Ali Shamlakh, a deputy Nukhba company commander, who was advancing attacks on troops and Israeli civilians, and Nasser Louh, a Nukhba cell commander in Hamas's Sabra Battalion. "The terrorists posed an immediate threat to our forces operating in the area and were eliminated in a precise aerial strike," the military adds. |
Robert A. Heinlein, Friday
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Robert A. Heinlein, Friday
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Robert A. Heinlein, Friday
CLAIM: Iranian state media claims that U.S. forces struck a civilian wheat storage facility in Hoveyzeh on July 14. This is FALSE. TRUTH: On July 14, U.S. forces hit Iranian military targets in Bandar Abbas, Khormuj, Ahvaz, Qeshm, Tunb, Bushehr, and Kuh-e Stak to degrade Iran’s ability to attack commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, Iran has targeted innocent civilians transiting the strait and in neighboring Gulf countries. |
Robert A. Heinlein, Friday
At 3 p.m. ET, U.S. forces launched operations for a second wave of strikes today against Iran. The strikes are targeting Iranian military capabilities used to threaten vessels freely transiting through the Strait of Hormuz, an international waterway vital to global commerce. The U.S. military is holding Iran accountable at the Commander in Chief's direction. |
Robert A. Heinlein, Friday
U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) July 15, 2026 U.S. forces enforced naval blockade measures against Iran, July 15, by disabling an unladen oil tanker attempting to sail toward an Iranian port in the Arabian Gulf. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces observed Curacao-flagged M/T Belma transiting international waters toward Kharg Island. The commercial vessel ignored multiple warnings as it attempted to violate the U.S. blockade. A U.S. aircraft disabled the vessel after firing hellfire missiles into the ship’s smokestack. The ship is no longer transiting to Iran. U.S. forces resumed the naval blockade against vessels transiting to or from Iranian ports and coastal areas at 4 p.m. ET on July 14. During the first 24 hours of enforcement, CENTCOM has redirected two compliant commercial vessels and disabled one non-compliant vessel. U.S. forces remain vigilant and prepared to ensure full compliance.
Recent U.S. strikes on Iran are aimed not only at forcing open the Strait of Hormuz, but also at destroying Iranian military capabilities Washington would want eliminated before launching more complex operations, U.S. officials tell Reuters. “This is helping set the stage, if needed,” one official said.
JD Vance on Iran: If the Iranian people want to rise up and change their government, that's up to them. But we're not going to send 150,000 ground troops in order to accomplish a change in a regime unless the people on the ground themselves want to accomplish that outcome. Now, we're not going to send the troops in regardless, but to propose sending in the troops, you're basically saying that the U.S. military should do the job for the Iranian people. We're not in that business anymore. We're just not.
The IDF confirms carrying out a strike in southern Lebanon this evening, saying it killed three armed Hezbollah operatives in the military's buffer zone. The 869th Combat Intelligence Collection Unit identified the Hezbollah gunman near the Lebanese town of Beit Yahoun, and a short while later, forces of the 401st Armored Brigade struck and killed the trio "to remove a threat," the military says. |
Robert A. Heinlein, Friday
U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) July 16, 2026 Latest Wave of U.S. Strikes Against Iran Completed U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) ended an evening wave of strikes against Iran at 9 p.m. ET on July 15. U.S. forces struck Iranian command centers, air defense sites, missile and drone capabilities, and coastal surveillance facilities to further degrade Iran's ability to threaten innocent mariners crewing commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz. CENTCOM used precision munitions to hit targets in multiple locations including Bandar Abbas. Earlier this morning, American forces struck coastal defense and cruise missile sites on Greater Tunb Island during a 90-minute wave. The U.S. military is holding Iran accountable at the Commander in Chief's direction. |
Robert A. Heinlein, Friday
THE TELEGRAPH: The Houthis are preparing to close the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a key global shipping route. A closure would force ships to reroute around Africa, mirroring Iran's approach to the Strait of Hormuz. The group has not acted yet, reportedly waiting for the right moment as part of a broader Iranian pressure campaign against the US and its allies.
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Robert A. Heinlein, Friday
FWIW, this is 10:50 AM Eastern
A senior source in the Houthis' Ministry of Defense told the Hezbollah-affiliated Lebanese al-Mayadeen channel that Israeli warplanes participated alongside Saudi forces in an attempt to repel the Yemeni attack on Saudi Arabia, following the strike on Sana'a airport. The source described them as Gulfstream aircraft, designed for listening, communications and information gathering. According to the source, the planes flew out of Nevatim base and operated over the Red Sea. Their role was tracking the launches and drones fired from Yemen and determining their location.
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Robert A. Heinlein, Friday
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Robert A. Heinlein, Friday
Purported video showing severe damage to a bridge near Bandar Abbas, Iran, following recent U.S. airstrikes in the region has emerged, though remains unverified. The reported damage comes a day after Iranian Armed Forces spokesman Brig. Gen. Mohammad Akraminia warned that any U.S. attacks on Iranian infrastructure would be met with strikes against infrastructure across the Gulf region, describing such a response as broader and more destructive than previous attacks.
U.S. Strikes Hit Second Bridge in Hormozgan Province, Two Killed and Four Injured. According to Hormozgan provincial authorities, in addition to the earlier strike on the Kahurestan bridge, U.S. forces also targeted the Gariyeh bridge on provincial transport routes. The attacks killed two people and injured four others, local emergency and medical centers reported. As a result, the Bandar Abbas–Khamir–Lar road has been completely closed, and the Kashar–Kahurestan road has also been blocked. |
Robert A. Heinlein, Friday
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Robert A. Heinlein, Friday
Traffic continues across the King Fahd Causeway despite reports of an apparent Iranian attempt to strike it. The targets hit in Bahrain remain unclear. The King Fahd Causeway is a 25 km (16 mile) bridge and causeway linking Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. Opened in 1986, it is the only land connection between the two countries and a vital route for trade, travel, and strategic access.
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Robert A. Heinlein, Friday
U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) July 17, 2026 U.S. Successfully Completes New Strikes in Iran TAMPA, Fla. — Today at 9:40 p.m. ET, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) completed its latest major wave of strikes against Iran. U.S. forces, including fighter jets, aerial drones, and warships, launched precision munitions that hit dozens of Iranian military targets such as coastal surveillance and air defense sites, military logistics infrastructure, and maritime capabilities. This was the sixth consecutive night of U.S. strikes against Iran. At the Commander in Chief's direction, CENTCOM is further degrading Iranian military capabilities and holding Iran accountable for recent attacks on commercial shipping. More than 50,000 U.S. service members are operating across the Middle East and remain vigilant, lethal, and ready. |
Robert A. Heinlein, Friday
BREAKING: This footage is said to show the destruction of a U.S. Army HIMARS launcher after it was struck by a one-way attack drone operated by the IRGC Aerospace Force this evening. A major secondary explosion can be seen as the precision-guided missiles still loaded aboard the launcher detonate. Attached File Attached File Attached File
#Iran's regime has told its regional allies, including #Hezbollah, to prepare for the possibility of a broader conflict amid military escalations with the United States, Lebanon’s Nidaa Al Watan newspaper reports, citing information obtained from meetings held in Tehran on the sidelines of the recent funeral of former supreme leader Ali Khamenei
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Robert A. Heinlein, Friday
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Robert A. Heinlein, Friday
BREAKING: According to the IRGC Navy, two oil tankers being escorted by the U.S. Navy to transit the Iranian naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz struck Iranian naval mines and caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz. The IRGC stated that the two tankers had attempted to pass through a minefield laid south of the Strait of Hormuz and were engulfed in a major fire after the explosions. It further claimed that the Strait of Hormuz remains completely closed to maritime traffic and warned that no vessel should attempt to enter the mined area until what it described as U.S. military aggression has ended. The statement also warned shipping operators not to be misled into attempting to transit the mined route, asserting that the passage remains unsafe and that exports of oil and gas through the Strait of Hormuz will not resume while hostilities continue.
BREAKING: U.S. military aircraft are carrying out airstrikes in and around Bandar Abbas, southern Iran, tonight. Multiple reports from residents indicate the sound of low-flying fighter aircraft followed by repeated explosions across the city. Witnesses described several waves of strikes beginning shortly after 01:05 local time, with additional explosions reported at approximately 01:16, 01:19 and 01:20. According to incoming reports, at least five major explosions were heard during the initial phase of the attack, followed by further strikes in rapid succession. Residents across Bandar Abbas reported buildings shaking from the blasts, while people in Qeshm also reported hearing explosions. Several eyewitnesses stated that fighter aircraft remained overhead for more than 10 minutes between attack runs. Incoming reports suggest that the Khorgu missile site, the Bandar Abbas Air Base area, and a telecommunications tower on Allah Akbar Hill may have been among the targets struck. Other residents also reported a large explosion from the direction of Bandar Abbas Airport. |
Robert A. Heinlein, Friday
8:00 AM Eastern
U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) July 18, 2026 CENTCOM Finishes Latest Wave of Strikes Against Iran TAMPA, Fla. — U.S. forces ended the seventh consecutive night of strikes against Iran on July 17 at 9:30 p.m. ET. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) hit surveillance sites, military logistics infrastructure, underground weapons storage, and maritime capabilities. U.S. forces employed fighter aircraft, aerial drones, and warships in addition to other assets. CENTCOM continues to hold Iran accountable at the Commander in Chief's direction while fully enforcing a naval blockade against Iranian ports. More than 50,000 American service members are operating across the Middle East and remain vigilant, lethal, and ready.
BREAKING: The IRGC Aerospace Force has released videos showing the launch of its precision-guided ballistic missiles, including the Haj Qasem, Kheibarshekan, Fateh-110 and Zolfaghar, as well as Shahed-136 one-way attack drones, against U.S. military bases in Persian Gulf states and Jordan. During last night’s attacks, most of these missiles reportedly evaded interception by U.S. Army air-defence batteries protecting air bases such as Muwaffaq Salti Air Base.
BREAKING: During last night's U.S. attacks, the entrance to the Shahid Mirzaei Tunnel (Glogah), one of the most important transportation routes in southern Iran, was blocked in both directions. Two bridges located beyond the gorge, along with the outbound bridge at the Minab intersection, were also bombed. In addition, the Shur River bridge on the Bandar Abbas–Sirjan highway was destroyed.
In response to the overnight U.S. strike on an Iranian desalination plant near Jask, Iran launched retaliatory strikes this morning on another power station and desalination plant in Kuwait. Kuwait's Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy said the attack sparked a fire, forcing the shutdown of several power generation units. The Kuwait Petroleum Corporation also reported that "one of the vital facilities in the oil sector" was hit by repeated Iranian attacks, resulting in "multiple injuries and significant material damage."
Dozens of additional aerial refueling tankers that the American military is sending to Israel will be landing and stationed at Israeli airbases, rather than Ben Gurion Airport, according to the military. This is in order to minimize disruption to civilian transportation routes. Israel's Transportation Ministry had already limited the number of tankers at Ben Gurion to 20 to try and fight summer flight disruptions. The decision to send the tankers to Israeli airbases was made by the US in coordination with the Israeli military, which allowed the Israeli Air Force to make preparations. The military says it is acting to enable the US's deployment in Israel as much as possible while preserving Israel's civilian aviation needs. |
Robert A. Heinlein, Friday
CENTCOM Statement on Recently Fallen, Missing U.S. Service Members TAMPA, Fla. — On July 17, two U.S. service members in Jordan were killed in action as U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) and partner forces defended against Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks. Additionally, one service member is currently missing. Four American service members were medically evacuated to Jordanian hospitals. They have since been discharged. Other personnel who were evaluated for minor injuries have returned to duty. Out of respect for the families, CENTCOM will withhold additional information, including the identities of the fallen warriors, until 24 hours after the next of kin have been notified. |
Robert A. Heinlein, Friday
Attached File
Iran has adapted to U.S. defenses, firing missiles that travel at extremely high speeds and can maneuver as they streak toward the earth, according to U.S. officials familiar with the attacks. Iran’s ability to hit sensitive targets has also raised concerns that the regime is getting targeting help from China or Russia, the officials said- WSJ Full article link Two U.S. servicemembers were killed and several were wounded in an Iranian attack on an air base in Jordan, further escalating a weeklong exchange of fire where both sides have been striking increasingly sensitive targets. U.S. Central Command, which oversees American forces in the Middle East, confirmed the deaths and said another servicemember is missing as a result of the attack. Four servicemembers were medically evacuated to Jordanian hospitals and have since been discharged, according to Centcom. Other personnel who were evaluated for minor injuries have been returned to duty, Centcom added. Two U.S. servicemembers were killed and several were wounded in an Iranian attack on an air base in Jordan, further escalating a weeklong exchange of fire where both sides have been striking increasingly sensitive targets. U.S. Central Command, which oversees American forces in the Middle East, confirmed the deaths and said another servicemember is missing as a result of the attack. Four servicemembers were medically evacuated to Jordanian hospitals and have since been discharged, according to Centcom. Other personnel who were evaluated for minor injuries have been returned to duty, Centcom added. Iran has adapted to U.S. defenses, firing missiles that travel at extremely high speeds and can maneuver as they streak toward the earth, according to U.S. officials familiar with the attacks. Iran’s ability to hit sensitive targets also has raised concerns that the regime is getting targeting help from China or Russia, the officials said. The American deaths are the first resulting from hostile fire since President Trump declared a ceasefire in early April. They will test the president’s restraint amid an escalating exchange of fire between the U.S. and Iran that stretched through the past week. The president has previously said he would consider going back to war if Iran kills U.S. troops. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Saturday that the loss of the servicemembers would stiffen the U.S.’s resolve. Lawmakers offered their condolences to the families in social-media posts, including House Speaker Mike Johnson (R., La.) and Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, a top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Shaheen added that “the President must negotiate an end to this disastrous war.” The Iranian attack took place at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base, which U.S. warplanes have used for operations against Iran, according to U.S. officials. The U.S. casualties came as American and partner forces were defending against missile and drone attacks, Centcom said. Iran has repeatedly attacked the base with ballistic missiles and drones. The base was hit in another attack earlier this week, and U.S. servicemembers sustained minor injuries, according to two U.S. officials. Prior to the attack, the Pentagon had said 14 American servicemembers had died in the conflict with Iran due to hostile actions or accidents. A 15th servicemember died as a result of a medical emergency. Clashes between the two countries erupted this month over control of the strategic Strait of Hormuz and have spread to ships, power facilities and bridges across the Persian Gulf and Iran. While both sides appear determined to keep fighting, they have avoided a return to all-out war over the past week. Analysts worry the steady ratcheting higher could set off an escalatory spiral. Iran’s Mojtaba Khamenei, who assumed power in Iran but hasn’t been seen since the war began, warned in a statement of “unforgettable lessons” if the U.S. continues to strike Iran. The Jordanian air base, which has been defended by the Thaad antimissile system, has been hit before, though no servicemembers had been killed there previously. A Thaad radar defending the base was damaged in an Iranian drone attack in March, prompting the U.S. to replace the component. The attack comes as the U.S. is rushing more warplanes to the region. U.S. F-16s from Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany are being deployed. Those aircraft can attack Iranian radars that are used to fire surface-to-air missiles, among other capabilities. Stealthy U.S. F-35s are also being sent to the Middle East from a British air base at Lakenheath, England, as well. Aerial refueling tankers are also headed to the region. The memorandum of understanding Trump signed with Iran in mid-June to open the Strait of Hormuz and start winding down the war has collapsed amid Iranian efforts to dictate ship traffic through the crucial waterway. Iran’s Foreign Ministry said Saturday that the country has formally withdrawn from the agreement, citing American violations, including trying to establish an independent pathway through the strait. Both sides have ramped up the use of force to try to break the deadlock. The fighting has taken a deadly turn for shipping, crimped traffic in the strait and pushed oil prices sharply higher. Continued disruptions in the waterway, the throughway for a fifth of the world’s oil, could pull global oil inventories down to dangerous levels.
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Robert A. Heinlein, Friday
RUMINT
BREAKING: It has now been confirmed that a pair of helicopters, most likely two HH-60W Jolly Green II combat search and rescue helicopters of the U.S. Air Force, are severely damaged (beyond repair) in the ballistic missile strike carried out by the IRGC Aerospace Force against Muwaffaq Al-Salti Air Base in Jordan early this morning. Four Iranian attacks in five days have targeted U.S. troops in Jordan, U.S. officials said, including one on Friday that killed two soldiers and left another service member missing. The Iranian attack that killed two U.S. soldiers and left one service member missing on Friday was the fourth in five days on U.S. forces in Jordan, multiple American officials said. Taken together, the attacks have wounded dozens of U.S. service members and damaged a number of helicopters. The flurry of attacks and the losses they have caused are a sign that Iranian forces not only still have ample missile stocks but have also become more adept at evading U.S. air defense systems, said the U.S. officials, who were speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss operational matters. Jordan, which hosts major U.S. air bases, grew in importance in the run-up to and the early days of the war, as the Pentagon shifted a number of troops from Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar to relatively more secure locations in Jordan and Israel. The country’s role in U.S. operations has only increased as other American allies in the region have restricted Washington’s ability to base troops in and fly aircraft over their territories, the U.S. officials said. In early July, Iran widened its attacks in the region, including Jordan for the first time since Tehran and Washington signed a cease-fire agreement in June. The U.S. officials offered a recounting of the last five days of Iran’s attacks on Jordan, which the Pentagon has not yet discussed in detail publicly. The first attack to hit U.S. forces in Jordan struck a residential facility at King Faisal Air Base, wounding as many as five U.S. service members, they said. The second hit a base in eastern Jordan where U.S. Blackhawk helicopters were operating from, damaging a significant number of them. Then, 48 hours ago, Iranian missiles hit Jordan’s Muwawffaq Salti Air Base in Azraq, which is the same base where the troops were killed on Friday, the officials said. The earlier strike wounded about 20 U.S. troops rushing to take cover in bunkers. No one was killed in that barrage. But on Friday, when the Iranians struck the base again, two U.S. troops were killed and four other service members were injured, according to U.S. officials. Other personnel were evaluated for minor injuries and returned to duty. The Pentagon declined to comment. On Friday, the Iranian Army said it had launched a drone attack targeting fuel tanks at the U.S. base in Azraq. The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps also said it had used missiles and drones to target aircraft shelters at the base, according to Fars News Agency, a semiofficial news outlet affiliated with the Guards. President Trump has signaled that he plans to increase strikes on Iran in the next week and intended to hit more Iranian infrastructure, including bridges, electrical power plants and distribution systems. The deaths of the U.S. soldiers in Jordan increase the likelihood that Mr. Trump, who has threatened such strikes in the past but sometimes pulled back, will follow through.
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Robert A. Heinlein, Friday
Today at 6 p.m. ET, U.S. forces began launching new airstrikes against Iran at the Commander in Chief’s direction. The strikes are designed to further degrade Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and swiftly punish Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces who launched attacks against American service members in Jordan last night.
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Robert A. Heinlein, Friday
8:10 AM Eastern
U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) July 19, 2026 U.S. Completes 8th Consecutive Night of Strikes Against Iran TAMPA, Fla. — U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) completed another round of strikes against Iran on July 18 at 11:30 p.m. ET, at the Commander in Chief's direction. During the eighth consecutive night of U.S strikes, CENTCOM forces successfully hit Iranian military coastal surveillance and air defense facilities, maritime capabilities, and missile and drone storage sites to continue degrading Iranian military capabilities. American military assets also targeted Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces that launched attacks against U.S. service members in Jordan on July 17. More than 50,000 U.S. men and women in uniform are operating across the Middle East. They remain highly vigilant, focused, lethal, and ready.
BREAKING: The Iranian Army Ground Force has published footage showing the launch of its drones toward Ali Al Salem Air Base and Al-Udairi Air Base in Kuwait during the early hours of today. The Iranian Army's operation targeting U.S. military bases across the Middle East has been given the codename Operation Saeghe.
Kuwait’s Ministry of Electricity says an Iranian strike targeted a power generation and water desalination plant for the second time in two days, causing a fire and damaging several generating units. Emergency crews are responding and contingency plans have been activated to stabilize the power grid.
IRGC Navy claims four vessels allegedly backed by the U.S. attempted to transit the Strait of Hormuz via an unauthorized route with their navigation systems switched off, ignoring repeated warnings. The IRGC says two vessels experienced incidents and stopped, while the other two turned back. UKMTO has not confirmed such incidents.
Attached File |
Robert A. Heinlein, Friday
The Al Subiya Power Plant in northern Kuwait, that was hit by Iran, is the country’s largest power station and a major desalination facility. The impact appears limited so far. Kuwait urged power conservation, took units offline as a precaution, and said the grid remains stable as repairs continue.
Iranian state-run media released high-res satellite imagery showing damage to the power substation at a Batelco data center in Bahrain. They claim the site is a U.S. military C2 and AI data processing hub. The data center itself remained intact, but the electrical substation was struck.
The IDF says interceptor fragments fell in an open area near the southern city of Eilat earlier, amid an Iranian ballistic missile attack on Jordan. Three missiles launched by Iran at the Jordanian city of Aqaba were shot down by an American air defense system, while a fourth hit an open area in Jordan. The IDF says it also launched several Iron Dome interceptors at the falling fragments which potentially threatened the nearby city of Eilat. As a result, interceptor fragments fell in an open area near Eilat, without causing any damage or injuries, the military says. No sirens were activated in Eilat as the resort city was not under any threat. As of now, there are no changes to the Home Front Command's guidelines for civilians.
Several Hamas weapons sites were destroyed in Israeli strikes overnight, the military announces. The IDF says it struck a weapons depot, a weapons manufacturing site, and a rocket-launching position in several areas of the Strip. "The weapons were intended to be used to harm IDF soldiers" operating in Gaza and Israeli civilians, and were destroyed to "remove the threat," the military adds. |
Robert A. Heinlein, Friday
CENTCOM Update on Recently Fallen U.S. Service Members TAMPA, Fla. — Yesterday, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced the passing of two U.S. service members and the missing status of one in Jordan following an Iranian attack on July 17. After a thorough search, U.S. military personnel found unidentified remains at the location earlier today. An examination process to verify the remains is ongoing. Separately, a U.S. service member in northern Iraq was killed in action July 18 during a controlled detonation of unexploded ordnance from a downed Iranian one-way attack drone. A second service member was wounded and continues to receive medical treatment for a minor injury. CENTCOM is withholding additional information, including the identities of the missing and fallen warriors, out of respect for the families during the notification process. |
Robert A. Heinlein, Friday
Local sources report hearing explosion sounds in the cities of #Arak #Saveh #Khomein #Qom and #Isfahan.
Full article referenced in X post. Grain of salt with sources The United States was sending more warplanes to the Middle East, according to American officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity on Sunday, another sign the Trump administration may soon further escalate its strikes against Iran. Air Force F-16 fighter jets from Germany and stealthy F-35 jets from Britain were being sent to the Middle East, according to the officials, who were not authorized to publicly discuss operational matters. Additional aerial refueling aircraft were also on the way. U.S. Central Command, which oversees operations in the region, declined to comment on the deployments. The redeployment of the aircraft had already been ordered before an Iranian attack on Friday that killed two Army soldiers, left another U.S. service member missing, and injured many others in Jordan. That attack continued a weeklong pattern of strikes and counter-strikes, and prompted retaliation by the United States that the military said was in part to “swiftly punish Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces.” Even before those strikes, President Trump signaled that he planned to increase attacks on Iran in the coming week, and intended to hit more Iranian infrastructure, including bridges, electrical power plants and distribution systems. It was not immediately clear where all the additional warplanes would be stationed, but an Israeli military official who spoke on the condition of anonymity on Saturday said the United States had decided to place some additional aerial refueling aircraft at Israeli Air Force bases. |
Robert A. Heinlein, Friday
5:08 PM Eastern
BREAKING: Tonight, the IRGC Aerospace Force is launching ballistic missiles toward several air bases used by U.S. military forces across the Persian Gulf states. Muwaffaq Al-Salti Air Base in Jordan is among the apparent targets. Footage received from Qom reportedly shows a missile launch, while residents across Markazi Province and surrounding areas—including Arak, Saveh, Mahallat, Delijan and Khomein—reported hearing powerful explosions or launch-related sounds shortly after 23:40 local time. Similar reports were also received from Qazvin. A deputy governor of Markazi Province said that the explosion heard in Arak was related to “offensive operations” and that there was no cause for concern.
Iranian channels report that Qatar has submitted a new ceasefire proposal to both Tehran and Washington. - According to initial details, it calls for an end to the war and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz under Iranian control for a 10 day period. - No official confirmation yet.
The Darkhovin nuclear reactor construction site reportedly attacked: Not such a squeaky clean reactor project From an analysis we did in 2024: “The Darkhovin nuclear power reactor, aka IR-360 or Karun nuclear power reactor, has crystalized as another safeguards anomaly and standoff with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). This reactor and planned ones pose export control challenges, both as to Iran’s illicit acquisition of equipment and technology abroad and its potential spread of these goods to other countries.” We are seeking satellite imagery to see if any damage and, if so, its extent. |
Robert A. Heinlein, Friday
Link to article The service member killed during the disposal of an Iranian drone in Iraq on Saturday was not a bomb technician but another soldier who was hit by debris or fragments when the drone was detonated, according to a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity. The incident is under investigation, according to the official, who was not authorized to discuss operational matters publicly. |
Robert A. Heinlein, Friday
Attached File
BREAKING: Multiple explosions have been reported in Sirik, Bandar Abbas and Jask as a result of U.S. military airstrikes. Timeline of reported explosions: - 03:05 – Residents in Sirik reported multiple successive explosions. Several witnesses described dozens of very heavy explosions, with the final three blasts said to have been particularly powerful. One witness speculated the target may have been the port area. - 03:05–03:10 – Additional reports from the Tahrouyi area near Sirik described several very powerful explosions. Witnesses also reported hearing fighter aircraft overhead. - 03:11 – Residents in Bandar Abbas reported multiple successive explosions that continued for approximately two minutes. - Around 03:11 – Residents in Jask reported two explosions, followed shortly afterward by another powerful explosion. Additional witnesses reported fighter aircraft overhead and later stated the total number of explosions had risen to more than three. - Overall witness reports – Residents in Sirik estimated hearing at least eight major explosions, possibly more, with some saying the shockwaves were strong enough to nearly shatter their windows.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Iran: "Well, we feel very badly, but, you know, those great people, those great patriots who are out there fighting that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. Iran has been very, very badly damaged, they've lost everything almost militarily, they've got very little left, they've got some missiles, they've got some drones, they've got some manufacturing ability, not much. We control the strait, they don't control anything. So we'll see what happens, but we hit them very hard again tonight, and we did that in honor of the, probably three, it's probably three, as opposed to two, great patriots. |
Robert A. Heinlein, Friday
U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) July 20, 2026 CENTCOM Ends Weekend Wave of Strikes Against Iran TAMPA, Fla. — U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) successfully completed the ninth consecutive evening of strikes against Iran, July 19, at 10 p.m. ET. CENTCOM assets targeted Iranian military command centers, air defense and coastal surveillance sites, maritime capabilities, missile and drone launch sites, and communications networks to further diminish Iran's ability to attack commercial vessels and civilian mariners transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. military is holding Iran accountable at the Commander in Chief's direction. CENTCOM forces remain highly vigilant, focused, lethal, and ready.
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Robert A. Heinlein, Friday
11:00 AM Eastern
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Robert A. Heinlein, Friday
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Update from yesterday's attack on a ship Attached File Attached File
U.S. service members aboard amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4) support flight operations day and night from the Arabian Sea as CENTCOM enforces the naval blockade against Iran. As of July 20, the U.S. military has redirected 7 commercial vessels and disabled 1 to prevent the ships from leaving or entering Iranian ports.
A new armed faction, the Free Yemen Movement, has declared an uprising against the Houthis from inside Sanaa: "We announce an armed uprising against the Houthi movement from within Sanaa due to the crimes committed by Iran and the Houthis. This uprising comes in response to the Houthis' starvation, looting, theft, and killing of Yemenis, as well as their violation of Yemen's sovereignty and implementation of Iranian directives".
NEW: Around 40 Hezbollah operatives are reportedly trapped inside a sprawling underground tunnel complex beneath the Ali Taher ridge. The IDF has sealed the tunnel entrances, while Israeli security officials assess the operatives could run out of supplies within days, increasing the likelihood of a breakout attempt. The complex reportedly stretches more than one kilometer and contains command centers, weapons depots, and rocket-launch facilities. |
Robert A. Heinlein, Friday
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Robert A. Heinlein, Friday
5:26 PM Eastern
Another ship attacked in the strait Attached File |
Robert A. Heinlein, Friday
U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) July 21, 2026 TAMPA, Fla. — U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) completed another round of strikes against Iran at 9 p.m. ET, July 20. U.S. forces struck Iranian military command centers, maritime capabilities, missile and drone launch sites, and air defense systems to degrade Iran's ability to continue attacking commercial vessels flowing through the Strait of Hormuz. Commercial vessel transits through the vital international maritime corridor continue. Since early May, CENTCOM forces have helped facilitate the transit of approximately 900 commercial vessels and 450 million barrels of crude oil. American forces remain postured and prepared to hold Iran accountable for unwarranted aggression toward civilian mariners seeking to freely and openly transit the strait.
Full article from X post link Israeli intelligence believes Iran moved thousands of uranium-enrichment centrifuges into tunnels deep inside a mountain last fall, Israeli and U.S. officials say, a development that would heighten concerns that Tehran could reconstitute its nuclear program. Israel passed along the intelligence findings to the U.S., saying the centrifuges were transferred to the Pickaxe Mountain site last fall after the 12-day war in June when American and Israeli strikes pummeled Iran’s three main nuclear sites. As Israel’s war aims have increasingly diverged from the U.S.’s, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has tried to persuade President Trump to resume all-out attacks on Iran to further set back Tehran’s weapons programs and rebuilding effort. The U.S. has stepped up attacks in the past 10 days, and Trump said the U.S. was prepared to attack Pickaxe Mountain. Iran’s foreign minister and the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, or IAEA, didn’t respond to requests for comment. The White House referred The Wall Street Journal to interviews Trump gave last week about the site. Pickaxe is “a possible target for a nice big fat shot,” Trump told conservative broadcaster Hugh Hewitt on July 13. It was the first time he has explicitly talked about Pickaxe as a target, although he has previously mentioned an Iranian underground location buried in granite. Known as Mount Kolang in Iran, Pickaxe has been under surveillance by the U.S. and Israel for years, and what little is known about Iran’s activities at the site suggests it would present challenges to any airstrikes. Located near one of Iran’s main nuclear installations, Pickaxe was commissioned as an underground replacement for an Iranian centrifuge-assembly facility that was badly damaged after a 2020 explosion, which might have been an act of sabotage. Activity has continued there steadily for the past 15 months, with truck traffic, tunnel reinforcements and a security perimeter springing up, said the Institute for Science and International Security, a think tank on nuclear and nonproliferation issues. There was also work around an older tunnel network that dates from 2007, which Iran has since sealed up. “It is plausible that Iran moved centrifuges into the tunnels” in Pickaxe, said David Albright, the institute’s president. Experts estimate that the subterranean complex reaches 300 to 450 feet deep beneath solid rock, with enough room to accommodate several nuclear-related facilities. Nate Swanson, a U.S. National Security Council director for Iran in the Biden administration, said Tehran’s history of covert nuclear activity means any undeclared activity in a hardened underground site is cause for concern. “A covert breakout is the worst-case scenario. We don’t know what Iran’s intentions are, but the fact that we can’t verify this site underscores how problematic the status quo is,” Swanson said. “We have to have the IAEA in there to inspect these things.” Pickaxe wasn’t considered a priority to bomb last year during the Israel-Iran war and hasn’t been targeted in the round of fighting with the U.S. that began on Feb. 28. But officials and experts have long worried that Iran could use the tunnels to store or build nuclear equipment and to set up a small enrichment facility for producing fissile material. An Israeli military official familiar with the targeting effort expressed concern that the recent war’s airstrikes hadn’t sufficiently targeted nuclear-weapons-related work, saying that there was more work to be done, including at Pickaxe Mountain. Centrifuges are machines that are used to spin uranium gas, separating isotopes to enrich the material for civilian nuclear energy or potential weapons production. Iran denies ever seeking nuclear weapons but has produced about 1,000 pounds of 60% enriched uranium, near weapons-grade. The placement of centrifuges at Pickaxe doesn’t necessarily mean Iran is building an enrichment site there. After the June 2025 bombings, Tehran may have put its surviving centrifuges there to minimize their risk of destruction. It isn’t clear where the centrifuges Israel told the U.S. were taken to Pickaxe came from. Spare centrifuges might have been located at Iran’s main nuclear sites. But Iran has given the IAEA no access to the site and provided no information about its work or plans there, the nuclear agency has said. Director General Rafael Grossi said in March that Iran in 2021 announced its “intention to have nuclear activity” at the site.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) has issued an updated advisory on the reported attack against a vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, stating that the crew has now abandoned ship. According to @_MartinKelly_ , the vessel is the Kuwaiti-owned motor tanker 'Kaifan'. Iran has claimed responsibility for the attack and has also asserted that it struck a second vessel, setting it ablaze. Attached File Another ship might have been attacked
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Robert A. Heinlein, Friday
6:00 AM Eastern
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Robert A. Heinlein, Friday
The Department of War has identified Sergeant Michael Emmanuel Swinton, 30, of Fayetteville, North Carolina as the service member who was killed at Erbil Air Base, Iraq on July 19th, 2026 during the controlled detonation of an Iranian one-way attack drone. Sgt. Swinton was assigned to D Battery, 2nd Battalion, 55th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 108th Air Defense Artillery Brigade out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Attached File |
Robert A. Heinlein, Friday
Reporter: There are no signs that Iran intends to stop fighting--so, what is the plan? Trump: How do you know that? Do you know something that I don’t know? Reporter: They continue to attack our allies and kill Americans. Trump: They want to meet desperately to try and end it because they're getting decimated. You don't get that when you listen to your fake station. You don’t know anything.
The U.S., Israel and Lebanon are weighing several plans to disarm Hezbollah, the WSJ reports. One would have Washington train, equip and vet elite Lebanese army units to gradually replace Israeli forces in southern Lebanon, then move to disarm Hezbollah if needed. Other options: Syria helping sever Hezbollah's supply routes, or continued Israeli operations.
President Trump on Syria fighting Hezbollah: Well, it’s a concept. We get along very well with the President of Syria. He’s done a very good job. He’s pulled Syria together. He would like to come in and do something with Hezbollah. He has been fighting Hezbollah for a long time. I think it would be very effective.
The IDF fired warning shots after Lebanese army soldiers and heavy machinery crossed about 150 meters into Israel's buffer zone near Zawtar al-Sharqiyah, "breaching barriers." The LAF was supposed to deploy to the adjacent town of Zawtar al-Gharbiya following the IDF's withdrawal, as part of the framework agreement handing the LAF two zones in southern Lebanon. The IDF says the crossing was "contrary to the understandings between the parties." The IDF: warning shots were "fired into the air only, which did not endanger the Lebanese army personnel, to distance them from the area." The soldiers withdrew and no injuries were reported. The IDF called on the LAF to keep "operating in accordance with the understandings and within the agreed areas," warning that "any deviation from these areas without prior coordination could endanger its forces." |
Robert A. Heinlein, Friday
The hardline Tehran outlet Raja News called Tuesday for Iran to publish a list of vital infrastructure across the region, particularly in the United Arab Emirates, and strike the targets if the United States attacks Iran’s Pickaxe Mountain nuclear site. The outlet said Iran should not wait for an attack before responding and urged officials to present a practical plan for withdrawing from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Raja News also claimed the deeply buried and heavily fortified facility could withstand bunker-buster bombs, while raising the possibility of a tactical nuclear strike. Attached File |
Robert A. Heinlein, Friday
Significant: Asked whether China and Russia are helping Iran target U.S. forces, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said: “The depth and extent of it ought to remain classified. But there are ways in which both of those countries are, at different levels, enabling some of the things Iran is doing. Yes.”
RIYADH, July 21 (Reuters) - Senior Saudi and United Arab Emirates officials on Tuesday shared similar social media posts affirming their close historical ties and "wise leadership," a move that follows months of tensions owing to a rift between the two Gulf monarchies. The posts on X by Saudi Minister of Media Salman Al-Dosary and Abdulla bin Mohamed Alhamed, Chairman of the UAE National Media Authority, were both released at 7 p.m. Riyadh time. … One hour ahead of the posts by senior media officials, Turki Alalshikh, a close confidant of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), shared a photo on X that he said had been taken days earlier. It showed Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin-Salman, MBS' brother, and United Arab Emirates Vice President Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, their arms over each-others shoulders and smiles on their faces. He captioned it: "Saudi Arabia and the UAE: a story of brotherly relations and a deeply rooted partnership." |
Robert A. Heinlein, Friday
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Robert A. Heinlein, Friday
U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) July 22, 2026 At 8:15 p.m. ET on July 21, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) successfully completed the 11th consecutive evening of strikes against Iran. CENTCOM assets targeted Iranian military operations centers, maritime capabilities, aircraft hangars, drone storage facilities, and military logistics infrastructure to further degrade Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Over the past three months, Iran has attacked more than 30 commercial vessels transiting the international waterway vital for regional and global trade. The unwarranted attacks have endangered hundreds of innocent mariners and undermined freedom of navigation. Despite Iranian aggression, the Strait of Hormuz remains open for commercial vessel transit. Since early May, CENTCOM forces have helped facilitate the transit of approximately 900 commercial vessels and 450 million barrels of crude oil.
SAUDI-U.S. NUCLEAR DEAL: President Trump has approved a landmark 30-year civil nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia. • U.S. companies will play a central role in developing Saudi civilian nuclear infrastructure (reactors and related facilities). • It opens the door to a uranium enrichment facility on Saudi soil following a joint U.S.-Saudi study. • The deal does not impose the “gold standard” (a binding commitment to forgo domestic uranium enrichment and spent-fuel reprocessing, as the UAE accepted in 2009). • Safeguards rely more on bilateral U.S.-Saudi monitoring plus baseline IAEA arrangements rather than the full Additional Protocol in the strongest form previously demanded by non-proliferation advocates and some U.S. lawmakers. • It is not tied to Saudi normalization with Israel.
Several armed Palestinian Islamic Jihad operatives and other gunmen were killed in a strike in the southern Gaza Strip yesterday, the military announces. The IDF says soldiers of the Paratroopers Brigade's Reconnaissance Unit spotted the gunmen moving weapons into a vehicle and entering it. "The weapons they transferred were intended to be used in attacks against IDF troops operating in the area," the military says. The IDF says that a short while later, it carried out airstrikes on the armed terror operatives who were inside the car and near it, "to remove the threat." |
Robert A. Heinlein, Friday
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Robert A. Heinlein, Friday
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Robert A. Heinlein, Friday
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Robert A. Heinlein, Friday