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:
- Iran discusses Hormuz Strait in calls with Oman, Saudi Arabia
- US oil contract WTI falls back below $80 on Mideast hopes
- New round of Israel-Lebanon talks set August 4: US official
- Iran and Japan foreign ministers hold talks on Hormuz
- Gaza’s temporary schools fail to keep pace with children’s needs, UN mapping finds
Israeli forces ‘severely’ beat Palestinians at occupied West Bank checkpoint
Published: July 29, 2026 | 23:41 GMT | by Web Desk
Two Palestinian men were beaten by Israeli soldiers at the Atara checkpoint, located at the northern entrance of the city of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, AL Jazeera reported.
Israeli air strikes target residential street in Gaza City
Published: July 29, 2026 | 21:25 GMT | by Web Desk
Two Israeli air strikes have hit a residential block in the Shati refugee camp, located in the northwestern part of Gaza City, sending a powerful shockwave through the surrounding area, AL Jazeera reported.
The first missile failed to detonate, but the second missile did detonate, generating a massive explosion that rocked the area, according to AL Jazeera.
Trump says US will hit Iran ‘very hard’
Published: July 29, 2026 | 20:02 GMT | by Web Desk
US President Donald Trump reiterated threat to strike Iran “very hard” as the Middle East war reignited.
“we’re going to be hitting them very hard, because it’s our turn to hit them, they know it’s coming,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.
“We’ll see if we get there with an agreement at some point,” he added.
CENTCOM says forces continue enforcing naval blockade against Iran
Published: July 29, 2026 | 18:30 GMT | by Web Desk
US Central Command (CENTCOM) said its forces continue to strictly enforce the naval blockade against Iran.
In a statement, CENTCOM said that as of July 29, US forces had redirected 20 commercial vessels, disabled two, and boarded two others while enforcing the blockade.
Pakistan, Egypt express concern over Palestine, condemn Israeli military actions
Published: July 29, 2026 | 16:17 GMT | by Web Desk
Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Wednesday received a telephone call from his Egyptian counterpart, Badr Abdelatty, during which the two sides expressed grave concern over the deteriorating situation in Palestine, condemning the continued Israeli military actions in Gaza and the Occupied West Bank, said a statement by the Foreign Office.
“The two Foreign Ministers expressed grave concern over the deteriorating situation in Palestine, condemning the continued Israeli military actions in Gaza and the Occupied West Bank, escalating settler violence, and repeated violations at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem,” the statement said.
It added that both sides underscored the urgent need for an “immediate end” to all hostilities, unhindered humanitarian assistance, and full respect for international law.
“The two Ministers also discussed Jordan’s proposal to convene a meeting of a group of Arab and Islamic countries to coordinate diplomatic efforts in support of the Palestinian people,” it added.
The statement said both sides further exchanged views on recent regional developments, stressing the imperative of restraint, dialogue, and diplomacy to prevent further escalation and preserve regional peace and stability.
CENTCOM says IRGC has no authority over Strait of Hormuz shipping routes
Published: July 29, 2026 | 15:32 GMT | by Web Desk
US Central Command (CENTCOM) said Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) continues to claim that international mariners should only use routes it prefers after recently threatening and attempting to attack commercial vessels and innocent mariners transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
In a statement, CENTCOM said the Strait of Hormuz is an international waterway and that the IRGC has no authority to dictate routes for free and open traffic flow.
CENTCOM said commercial vessels continue to use the strait with US military support.
According to the statement, since early May, CENTCOM forces have helped approximately 1,000 vessels and 500 million barrels of crude oil pass through the narrow waterway.
Iraq vows to defend sovereignty, prevent threats to neighbours
Published: July 29, 2026 | 14:24 GMT | by AFP
Iraq vowed to defend its sovereignty and to prevent its territory from being used against neighbouring countries following deadly US-Saudi strikes on the country.
Iraq's Ministerial Council for National Security said it "decided to adopt a comprehensive security plan to strengthen control across the country, confront any violation of Iraq's sovereignty, and prevent any source from using Iraqi territory to threaten neighboring states".
World oil prices jump 5% on Mideast strikes
Published: July 29, 2026 | 11:05 GMT | by AFP
Oil prices jumped 5% Wednesday, rebounding in volatile trading after fresh strikes in the Middle East reignited fears of crude supply disruptions.
International benchmark Brent North Sea crude gained 5.3% to $88.57 a barrel, while the main US oil contract WTI advanced 5% to $83.25 a barrel.
West Bank violence, annexation 'only getting worse': UN
Published: July 29, 2026 | 8:38 GMT | by AFP
Two years after the International Court of Justice said Israel's occupation of the West Bank was unlawful, settler violence and territorial annexation are "only getting worse," the UN said Wednesday.
"With attacks by Israeli settlers, and the creation of settlements and outposts, hitting an all-time high, third states must act urgently and in unison to halt the continuing killing and dispossession of the Palestinian people, and to bring an end to the Israeli occupation," UN human rights office spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani said in a statement.
Jordan army says intercepted five Iranian missiles
Published: July 29, 2026 | 5:17 GMT | by AFP
Jordan's army on Wednesday said it intercepted and downed five Iranian missiles, as fighting between Tehran and Washington resumed following a brief pause.
"Air defenses this morning dealt with five missiles coming from Iran targeting the kingdom's territory," the spokesman of the Jordanian army said in a statement, adding that the missiles were "intercepted and downed."
Iran Guards say halted 3 oil tankers in Hormuz: Media
Published: July 29, 2026 | 2:18 GMT | by AFP
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they struck and halted three oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian media reported Wednesday, despite a lull in fighting between Washington and Tehran.
The Guards' navy said "three violating oil tankers, which ignored our warnings and continued sailing an unsafe and illegal route, were struck and brought to a halt," Tasnim News agency reported.
Iran denies any link to projectiles fired at targets in Saudi Arabia
Published: July 29, 2026 | 00:41 GMT | by Web Desk
An Iranian military official has told state broadcaster IRIB that Tehran firmly rejects any connection to projectiles launched from other countries against sites in Saudi Arabia, Al Jazeera reported.
The official said that linking any action targeting US interests in the region to Iran would be a serious miscalculation, reflecting a poor understanding of the current regional dynamics, according to IRIB.
This statement follows Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Defense reporting fresh drone strikes on its oil facilities in the Eastern Province, with blame directed at Iran-backed militias operating in Iraq.
Oil price up more than 3% after Iran attacks
Published: July 29, 2026 | 00:33 GMT | by AFP
Oil prices jumped more than 3% in early Asian trade on Wednesday after the US military said it had intercepted multiple missiles launched by Iran.
At around 0015 GMT, US benchmark West Texas Intermediate was up 3.67% at $82.17 a barrel, while North Sea Brent crude had gained 3.39% to $86.94.
CENTCOM says intercept Iranian missiles targeting bases in Jordan
Published: July 29, 2026 | 00:21 GMT | by Web Desk
CENTCOM said early Wednesday it intercepted a number of missiles in what it called "an attempted surprise attack on bases in the Middle East." Al Jazeera later said the missiles targeted US bases in Jordan.
For earlier developments, read our July 28 live blog here.