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 Tuesday's top developments here:
- Hegseth estimates cost of Iran war at $37.5 billion
- Trump vows to help Lebanon pursue peace with Israel
- Trump says US 'not finished at all' with Iran
- Trump says will 'take care of' Houthis if they blockade Saudi ports
- Pakistan PM calls for restraint from all warring sides during talks with Iranian minister
US attacks target areas near Iran’s Behbahan and Omidiyeh
Published: July 22, 2026 | 00:31 GMT | by Web Desk
US missile attacks have targeted areas near the cities of Behbahan and Omidiyeh in Iran’s southwestern Khuzestan province, Al Jazeera reported, citing Fars news agency.
US military says begins 11th straight night of strikes on Iran
Published: July 22, 2026 | 00:31 GMT | by AFP
US Central Command said Tuesday it has begun striking military targets in Iran for the "11th consecutive night," as attacks in the Middle East war intensify.
"The strikes are designed to continue degrading Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz," CENTCOM said in a post on X, adding strikes began at 2300 GMT.
Hegseth estimates cost of Iran war at $37.5 billion
Published: July 21, 2026 | 19:45 GMT | by AFP
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the Iran war has cost the United States $37.5 billion so far, up from a previous estimate of nearly $29 billion in mid-May.
"The estimate we have as of today is $37.5 billion," Hegseth testified during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing at which he defended a request for some $67 billion in supplemental funding for the Pentagon.
Trump vows to help Lebanon pursue peace with Israel
Published: July 21, 2026 | 19:45 GMT | by AFP
US President Donald Trump vowed Tuesday to help Lebanon "a lot" as its president, Joseph Aoun, sought Washington's backing for a fragile effort to disarm Hezbollah and forge a path to peace with Israel.
Meeting Aoun at the White House, Trump said Lebanon had been "a very mistreated country" that had been "hit hard" for decades.
"It's probably a dangerous place in a lot of ways," Trump told reporters. "But they love the country... and we're going to help it. We're going to help it a lot."
Aoun, the first Lebanese president invited to Washington since 2009, asked Trump for political support and continued backing for the Lebanese army, which has begun deploying in southern areas under a US-backed framework agreement with Israel.
"We need to support the LAF," Aoun said, referring to the Lebanese Armed Forces. "Without the LAF, everything will collapse."
For earlier developments, read our July 21 live blog here.
