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 Wednesday's top developments here:

  • Yemen Houthis claim strikes on two Saudi oil tankers in Red Sea
  • US launches fresh strikes on Iranian military targets
  • Iran warns of 'eye for an eye' response if infrastructure hit
  • Iraq lost over $40 bn in revenue during war: Govt official
  • Pakistan, Egypt underscore importance of de-escalation, dialogue in Middle East escalation


US military launches 13th night of strikes on Iran

Published: July 23, 2026 | 23:42 GMT | by AFP


The United States military said Thursday it was attacking Iran for the 13th night in a row.


"U.S. forces started another night of strikes against Iranian military targets at 6:45 p.m. ET (2245 GMT) today," US Central Command (CENTCOM) said, adding that the "strikes aimed to hold Iran accountable and diminish threats from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to commercial shipping."



Trump says frozen Iranian assets will pay for damage to shipping

Published: July 23, 2026 | 23:22 GMT | by AFP


President Donald Trump said Thursday that the US would begin using frozen Iranian assets to pay for ships and cargo damaged by strikes in and around the Gulf.


"Please let this statement serve to represent, until further notice, that from this point forth, any and all damages done to Ships, Cargo, or anything related thereto, will be paid for by Iranian Money that the United States has in its possession, and controls," Trump said on Truth social.



Kuwait says under attack from Iranian missiles and drones

Published: July 23, 2026 | 21:22 GMT | by AFP


Kuwaiti air defence batteries opened fire on incoming Iranian missiles and drones on Thursday, the Gulf country's armed forces announced.


"Kuwaiti air defences are currently intercepting hostile missile and drone attacks following the wrongful Iranian aggression," the general staff said in a message posted on social media.



Brent oil prices rise 8% on Middle East strikes

Published: July 23, 2026 | 18:43 GMT | by Web Desk

Oil prices surged Thursday as worries about attacks in the Red Sea exacerbated supply concerns in a petroleum market limited by the quasi-shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz.

Near 1820 GMT, Brent oil futures were up 8.4 percent at $101.93, rising above $100 for the first time since late May.

US benchmark West Texas Intermediate rose 7.6 percent to $93.44 a barrel.



Omani and UK FMs discuss Iran war

Published: July 23, 2026 | 18:03 GMT | by Web Desk


Oman’s foreign minister has discussed the US-Israeli war on Iran with his UK counterpart on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in the Philippines’ capital, Manila.


The Omani Foreign Ministry said that Badr Albusaidi and Ed Miliband discussed efforts to stop the fighting and compel both sides to return to negotiations, as well as restoring free and safe navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.


They also spoke about bilateral ties between Oman and the UK.


UN chief warns situation in Middle East ‘getting out of control’

Published: July 23, 2026 | 17:15 GMT | by Web Desk


UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned Thursday that an “alarming disregard for international law” is driving worsening crises across the Middle East, telling the UN Security Council that conflicts are “increasing in number, complexity, length and scope”, while “impunity is spreading”.


“The situation is getting out of control,” he said. “It is teetering on the edge of the unimaginable.”


Guterres called for navigational rights around the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandeb to be “fully restored,” stressing “diplomacy is the only way forward.”


On Gaza, he said civilians still pay a heavy price despite the ceasefire, with killings continuing “as Israel increases its control of Gaza” and conditions remaining “intolerable”.


In the occupied West Bank, he warned of “creeping annexation”, violence and “large-scale displacement”, adding: “The region is being pulled into an ever-widening circle of confrontation.”



Trump says seriously considering ‘massive attack’ on Iran

Published: July 23, 2026 | 16:01 GMT | by Web Desk


US President Donald Trump said he was seriously considering restarting major combat operations in Iran — including strikes that would be bigger than the ones carried out during "Operation Epic Fury," Axios reported.


"I am considering a massive attack. Bigger than ever before. I am close to making a decision. We are all set for it," the president was quoted as saying.


Trump said Israel "would join in two minutes if I ask them to," but added that "we don't need anybody" to launch a new operation against Iran.


He said the Iranians "want to negotiate" but were not ready to make a deal at the moment.


"They haven't received enough pain yet," he said.



Yemen says forces thwart Houthi attack in Dhale Governorate

Published: July 22, 2026 | 14:46 GMT | by Web Desk


Yemen's Ministry of Defense said the armed forces thwarted an attack by the “Houthi militia” on military sites in the northwestern fronts of Dhale Governorate.

In a statement, the ministry said the attack was repelled following fierce battles that ended with the militia suffering heavy losses in lives and equipment.



Mideast situation on 'edge of the unimaginable': UN chief

Published: July 23, 2026 | 14:27 GMT | by AFP

Ongoing conflict in the Middle East has pushed the region to the "edge of the unimaginable," UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned Thursday.

"The situation is getting out of control. It is teetering on the edge of the unimaginable. The region is being pulled into an ever-widening circle of confrontation. One crisis feeds another. One escalation triggers the next," Guterres told a Security Council meeting.

"As this dynamic spreads, the political objectives are becoming increasingly obscured by the confrontation itself."



Germany 'very worried' about risk of Mideast 'escalation': minister

Published: July 23, 2026 | 13:51 GMT | by AFP


Germany is "very worried" that attacks on oil tankers in the Red Sea by Yemen's Houthi militants risk escalation of conflicts in the region, the country's defence minister said Thursday.


"Recent developments, specifically concerning the Houthis and Saudi Arabian tankers, raise concerns that an escalation could be imminent," Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said, adding that the situation has "dire consequences" for those living in the region and global energy supplies.


Food security in Gaza improves but remains fragile: UN


Food security and child nutrition have improved across the Gaza Strip, but remain fragile because only one aid crossing point is open, the UN's World Food Program said.


"While access into Gaza has improved, only one crossing — Kerem Shalom/ Abu Salem — in the south of Gaza remains open, limiting the flow of essential goods," the World Food Programme (WFP) said in a statement.


There has been a "significant" increase in food and nutritional aid since the ceasefire agreement was reached in October 2025, it said.


WFP said that there were early signs in the Strip that local food production "can be restored where farmers and herders are able to access cropland, agricultural inputs, productive assets, veterinary support and other essential services such as energy for irrigation."


The agency pointed to evidence in the livestock sector, "where sheep inventories have increased by 33% in areas where support has been sustained."


But it warned "this can only go so far without the removal of restrictions on what enters the Strip."



Iran war risks pushing up inflation: ECB's Lagarde 

Published: July 23, 2026 | 12:32 GMT | by AFP


Fresh fighting in the Middle East means inflation could now trend higher than expected, European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde said Thursday.


"The risks to the inflation outlook are to the upside," she said at a press conference after the bank announced it was keeping its key deposit rate unchanged. "The energy shock could intensify further and its effects on other prices and wages could be stronger than currently expected."



Iran’s Araghchi says US to change its ‘hegemonic approach’

Published: July 23, 2026 | 12:3 GMT | by Web Desk


The Iranian foreign minister spoke to the national media on the sidelines of the meeting between Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi in Tehran, Al-Jazeera reported.

“[The Iraqi PM] had a trip to Washington, and it is natural for him to convey his own views and impressions from that trip to us, which is a normal matter,” he said regarding al-Zaidi’s recent trip to the US.


“Moreover, we do not currently have a problem with the issue of mediators with the United States – there are enough mediators between us who are carrying out this role,” Araghchi added.


Reported by Al-Jazeera, he said that the problem is not the issue of the exchange of messages between the sides.

“The problem is the nature of the US approach – its irrational, excessive and hegemonic approach – which has been met with a firm response from our side,” Araghchi said.


“As long as they do not understand that there is no way forward other than respecting the Iranian people and respecting their interests, it will not be effective,” the top diplomat concluded.



Kuwait expresses condemnation of Houthi militia attack on Saudi vessel 

Published: July 23, 2026 | 12:07 GMT | by Web Desk 


Kuwait’s foreign ministry expressed condemnation and denunciation of the attack launched by the Houthi militia on a Saudi vessel while sailing in the Red Sea, a statement issued on the ministry’s X account said. 


“This act constitutes a flagrant violation of international law and poses a direct threat to the security and freedom of maritime navigation, as well as to the safety of international trade and energy supplies,” it said, affirming full Kuwait’s full solidarity with Saudi Arabia. 


The ministry said it supported the Kingdom and backed all measures taken to safeguard its sovereignty, security, and interests. 


“It emphasizes Kuwait’s rejection of any actions that undermine regional security and stability,” it said


The ministry also stressed the necessity of an immediate halt to these attacks and adherence to the rules of international law that guarantee freedom of navigation and safe passage through international waterways.



Kuwait says Abdali border attacked by 'hostile drones', no casuality recorded

Published: July 23, 2026 | 11:48 GMT | by Web Desk

The Official Spokesman for the Ministry of Defense, Major General Saud Abdulaziz Al-Otaibi, stated that the Abdali border crossing was subjected, this afternoon, to an attack by hostile drones, which resulted in material damage, said a statement by the Kuwaiti army on its X.

He added that the specialized teams immediately began, upon the occurrence of the incident, to handle it and took the necessary measures to secure the site in coordination with the relevant authorities, it added.


“The inspection and disposal teams affiliated with the Land Force have also commenced survey and securing operations, and the removal of drone remnants, in accordance with approved technical procedures, to ensure the site's safety and freedom from any hazards,” said the statement.



UAE condemns Iran’s renewed hostile attacks

Published: July 23, 2026 | 11:57 GMT | by Web Desk


The United Arab Emirates condemned “in the strongest terms the renewed hostile attacks” by Iran targeting the Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan with missiles and drones.


“In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) affirmed that these hostile attacks constitute a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of the brotherly nations and a threat to their security and stability,” a statement issued by UAE’s foreign ministry said.


The ministry reiterated full solidarity with the countries, and its support for all measures aimed at safeguarding their security and stability.



Israeli far-right minister leads hundreds to Al-Aqsa on Jewish mourning day

Published: July 23, 2026 | 10:01 GMT | by AFP


Israeli far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir led hundreds of Israeli Jews into Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa mosque compound on Thursday, breaching the site's decades-old status quo as he marked a Jewish day of mourning.


The visit coincided with Tisha B'Av, the Jewish fast day commemorating the destruction of the First and Second Temples.


AFP footage showed Ben Gvir and hundreds of fellow worshippers at the Al-Aqsa compound, including Jewish settlers who lined up from the early morning hours to enter the site.


Many Jews also performed prayers at the compound.


"Look at what's happening here -- Jews are praying and feel that they are the rightful owners here," Ben Gvir said in a video filmed at the compound and posted on his Telegram channel.


"Everywhere, people understand that the State of Israel is the sovereign authority. There is still more to do, and with God's help, we will continue to move forward."


Located in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem, the compound is revered as Islam's third holiest site and, simultaneously, as Judaism's most sacred location, where the two ancient temples once stood.



Brent oil nears $100 after surging 5% on Mideast attacks

Published: July 23, 2026 | 09:59 GMT | by AFP


The price of main international oil contract, Brent North Sea, soared 5% Thursday after Houthi rebels claimed to have struck two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea.


Brent reached $98.80 a barrel while main US contract, West Texas Intermediate, rallied 3.8% to $90.11 a barrel, as the attacks potentially opened a new front in the Middle East war.



Rubio says Saudis seek 'peaceful, civil nuclear program'

Published: July 23, 2026 | 09:31 GMT | by AFP


US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Thursday that a landmark nuclear cooperation pact with Saudi Arabia would result only in a peaceful, civilian atomic program.


"Suffice it to say that any agreement that we're going to make with any country in the world on civil nuclear energy is going to be one that will have safeguards in place to ensure that it can't be turned into a weapons program," Rubio said on the sidelines of a Southeast Asian summit in Manila.


"Saudi Arabia seeks to have a peaceful, civil nuclear program," he told reporters, noting a similar deal was in place with the United Arab Emirates.



Air alert sirens sound in Bahrain: Interior ministry

Published: July 23, 2026 | 09:15 GMT | by AFP


Sirens sounded in Bahrain on Thursday, the interior ministry said, with AFP correspondents hearing the alerts in the capital Manama, as the country comes under daily Iranian attacks.


"The siren has been sounded... Citizens and residents are urged to remain calm and head to the nearest safe place," the ministry said in a statement.



Oman says working on resuming Yemen talks after Houthis hit Saudi ship 

Published: July 23, 2026 | 09:10 GMT | by AFP


Oman, a key mediator between Yemen's Houthis and Saudi Arabia, said on Thursday it was working to resume talks after Houthis hit a Saudi ship in the Red Sea a day earlier.


Oman's foreign ministry voiced "great concern" at the situation in the Red Sea, adding it was "currently working in coordination with its brothers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Yemeni parties, and the UN Special Envoy for Yemen with the aim of resuming the political process and roadmap to achieve security and stability in the region".



Jordan army says it intercepted Iranian missiles, drones

Published: July 23, 2026 | 09:07 GMT | by AFP


Jordan said on Thursday that it had intercepted Iranian missiles and drones, as Tehran responded to US airstrikes by hitting Washington's allies in the region.


The Jordanian army said in a statement it had intercepted three missiles on Thursday morning, while a fourth landed in an uninhabited area, and that it had intercepted six drones on Wednesday evening, with no casualties or material damage.



Iran army vows to continue strikes so long as country is under attack

Published: July 23, 2026 | 09:05 GMT | by AFP


The Iranian army said Thursday that it would continue its strikes around the region until the attacks on Iran stopped, state television reported.


"The armed forces' retaliatory attacks will continue as long as the US attacks on the country's infrastructure and coastal areas continue," said army spokesperson Mohammad Akraminia according to state TV, adding that the country was ready for "every enemy scenario".



Pakistan PM condemns Houthi attacks in call with Saudi crown prince

Published: July 23, 2026 | 08:03 GMT | by Web Desk


In telephone call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Pakistan Prime Minister strongly condemned the Houthi militia's attacks against Saudi Arabia.


A post shared by Sharif on X on Thursday stated, "Held a telephone conversation with my dear brother, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, this morning."

"I condemned, in the strongest possible terms, the Houthi militia’s attacks against Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea. Such actions are unacceptable, violate international law, threaten freedom of navigation, and undermine regional peace and security," Sharif added.


He said, "I reaffirmed Pakistan’s complete solidarity with the brotherly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and conveyed that I, together with Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and the entire Pakistani nation, stand firmly and resolutely with the Saudi leadership and the brotherly people of the Kingdom at this critical time." 


The two leaders "agreed to continue working very closely to maintain regional peace, security, stability, and the uninterrupted flow of lawful maritime commerce through the Red Sea as well as the Strait of Hormuz and the wider region."



Australian FM appreciates Pakistan's constructive role in promoting de-escalation 

Published: July 23, 2026 | 07:49 GMT | by Web Desk


Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong appreciated Pakistan’s constructive role in promoting dialogue and de-escalation in a meeting with Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, said a post shared on X by Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday. 


"The two leaders discussed Pakistan–Australia bilateral relations and reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening cooperation, including through regular high-level engagement," the post said.


"They also exchanged views on regional and international developments."


"Foreign Minister Wong appreciated Pakistan’s constructive role in promoting dialogue and de-escalation. Both sides noted with concern the recent escalations in the region and stressed that dialogue, diplomacy, and respect for international law remain essential to achieving lasting peace, stability, and security," it said.



Iran Guards say destroyed US military equipment in Jordan

Published: July 23, 2026 | 07:19 GMT | by AFP


Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Thursday that they had attacked and destroyed several American military assets in Jordan.


The targets included a radar for the US THAAD missile defense system, a Patriot system, a C-RAM radar and a helicopter hangar, according to a statement from the Guards aired by state TV.



TotalEnergies says profit doubled as war pushes up prices

Published: July 23, 2026 | 07:03 GMT | by AFP


French oil and gas giant TotalEnergies said Thursday net profit doubled in the second quarter, on the back of high hydrocarbon prices resulting from the conflict in the Middle East.


TotalEnergies said in a statement that net profit amounted to $5.4 billion in the period from April to June, up from $2.7 billion in the same period a year earlier.


EasyJet quarterly profit drops 70% on Middle East war impact

Published: July 23, 2026 | 07:01 GMT | by AFP


British no-frills airline EasyJet said Thursday that its profit tumbled in the third quarter as the Middle East war sent jet fuel prices surging.


Profit before tax fell 70% to £85 million ($114 million) in the three months to the end of June, compared to one year earlier, EasyJet said in a statement.



New Zealand FM appreciates Pakistan's constructive role during US-Iran tensions 

Published: July 23, 2026 | 06:59 GMT | by Web Desk


Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and his New Zealand counterpart Winston Peters held a meeting in Manila on the sidelines of the ASEAN Regional Forum, said a post shared on X by Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday.

"They exchanged views on regional and international developments. Foreign Minister Peters appreciated Pakistan’s constructive role during the recent US-Iran tensions and its efforts to promote dialogue, de-escalation, and regional peace," the post said. 



Pakistan, Oman FMs stress importance of upholding ceasefire 

Published: July 23, 2026 | 06:47 GMT | by Web Desk


Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held a meeting with Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, Foreign Minister of the Sultanate of Oman, on the sidelines of the ASEAN Regional Forum in Manila, said a post shared on X on Thursday by Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.


They also exchanged views on the latest regional and international developments, the post said.

"The Omani Foreign Minister appreciated Pakistan’s constructive role in promoting dialogue, de-escalation, and regional peace and security," it added. 


The post further said, "Both sides expressed concern over the recent developments in the region, stressed the importance of upholding the ceasefire, respecting international law, and working towards lasting peace and stability in the region." 


Iran's military says attacked US bases in Kuwait

Published: July 23, 2026 | 06:43 GMT | by AFP


Iran's army and its Revolutionary Guards on Thursday said they attacked several US bases in Kuwait following attacks by American forces on Iran.


The Guards claimed attacks on Ali Al Salem base, Camp Udairi and a telecommunications tower, while the army said it targeted Camp Doha, Ali Al Salem base and Camp Arifjan, according to separate statements by the forces carried by state TV.

US military completes 12th straight night of strikes on Iran

Published: July 23, 2026 | 05:43 GMT | by Web Desk


The US military completed 12th straight night of strikes on Iran on Wednesday, said a post shared on X by CENTCOM on Thursday.


"At 10:30 p.m. ET on July 22, US Central Command (CENTCOM) forces completed another round of strikes against Iran for the 12th consecutive night," the post said.

"US forces struck Iranian military targets including maritime capabilities, missile and drone storage facilities, coastal surveillance sites, and air defense assets. The strikes further degrade Iran's ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial vessels," the post added. 



Saudi confirms vessel hit in Red Sea: State media

Published: July 23, 2026 | 04:19 GMT | by AFP


A vessel belonging to a Saudi company was hit while transiting the Red Sea, Saudi state media reported Thursday citing an official source, after Yemen's Houthi rebels claimed it struck tankers in the waterway.


The source, quoted by state-run Saudi Press Agency, said "the vessel ENCELIA, belonging to a Saudi company, was targeted while sailing in the Red Sea, resulting in a fire at the bow of the ship" but that all crew members were safe.


New Mideast fighting puts eurozone rate-setters on alert

Published: July 23, 2026 | 04:13 GMT | by AFP


Fresh fighting in the Middle East and rising oil prices have put the European Central Bank on alert ahead of its rate-setting meeting on Thursday.


Two weeks of renewed conflict between Iran and the United States have once again slowed traffic through the Strait of Hormuz to a trickle, restricting energy exports on a waterway that in peacetime carries about a fifth of the world's oil and natural gas.


The ECB in June became the first major central bank to raise rates after the near total closure of the strait, putting rates up a quarter of a percentage point to 2.25%.


The Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding signed last month by Washington and Tehran raised hopes of a durable solution to the conflict but the resumption in fighting has sparked fears that eurozone inflation — which in June eased to 2.8% — might pick up again.


"Energy prices have reversed the decline that followed the signing of the memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran, making the benign inflation data for June an 'old' piece of information," UniCredit analysts said Monday.


"The looming risk of military escalation, oil inventories substantially below pre-war levels and intensifying pressure on natural gas prices imply with near certainty that the Governing Council will continue to view risks to price stability as skewed to the upside," they added.


Iran says stopped three oil tankers transiting Hormuz

Published: July 23, 2026 | 04:01 GMT | by AFP


Iran's Revolutionary Guards said Thursday they stopped three oil tankers from passing through the Strait of Hormuz, as the United States and Iran vie for control over the vital waterway.


In recent weeks, Iran has hit tankers using a route hugging the Omani coast to traverse the strait, in a bid to strongarm vessels into using its own waters and pay for safe passage.


"Three oil tankers, provoked and tempted by the child-killing American army, were trying to pass through the mine-laid route south of the Strait of Hormuz, but after one of them exploded and caught fire, the other two quickly turned around and turned back," the Guards said in a statement quoted by Iranian state media.


The statement did not say when the incident happened.


"The powerful IRGC Navy emphasizes that the Strait of Hormuz is under our control... and any ship that is deceived by the US and intends to pass without coordination with the Islamic Republic of Iran will suffer the same fate," the Guards added.



Explosions reported in Iran’s Bushehr: Irani media

Published: July 23, 2026 | 00:21 GMT | by AFP


US forces have attacked the southern coastal city of Bushehr, causing an explosion, Al Jazeera reported, citing semi-official Tasnim news agency.

Emergency services are at the scene, and “the details of this incident are under investigation,” Tasnim reported.



Yemen Houthis claim strikes on two Saudi oil tankers in Red Sea

Published: July 22, 2026 | 22:09 GMT | by AFP


Yemen's Houthi rebels claimed to have struck two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea on Wednesday, potentially opening a new front in the US-Iran war engulfing the region.


The claim came as the United States launched a fresh wave of strikes on Iranian military targets, marking the twelfth consecutive night of US attacks on Iran.


The Houthis said they had carried out missile and drone strikes on two Saudi tankers that "violated the blockade", naming the vessels as the Encelia and the Layla.



US launches fresh strikes on Iranian military targets

Published: July 22, 2026 | 22:05 GMT | by AFP


US forces launched a new wave of strikes against Iranian military targets on Wednesday on the orders of President Donald Trump, the US military said.


The strikes began at 5:30 p.m. ET and are aimed at further degrading Iran's ability to threaten civilian mariners and commercial vessels transiting regional waters, according to a statement.


The US military said the operation is ongoing.

For earlier developments, read our July 22 live blog here.