A plume of smoke rises following a reported explosion in Tehran, Iran, February 28, 2026. (AFP/FILE)
This live blog follows the latest developments across the Middle East crisis, including regional diplomacy, maritime security, ceasefire negotiations, and economic fallout.
Catch up: Yesterday’s top developments
Strait of Hormuz will only open with 'Iranian arrangements,' not American threats: Ghalibaf
Published: July 9, 2026 | 01:32 GMT | by Web Desk
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said the United States "still hasn’t learned that bullying and breaking promises are no longer cost-free."
"Let me put it plainly: if you strike, you’ll get hit," Ghalibaf said.
He also said, "Don’t flail around pointlessly, or you’ll sink even deeper: the Strait of Hormuz will only open with 'Iranian arrangements,' not American threats."
Explosions heard in Bahrain after air raid sirens
Published: July 9, 2026 | 01:06 GMT | by AFP
Explosions were heard in Bahrain's capital on Thursday, an AFP correspondent in Manama said, moments after authorities sounded air raid sirens to warn of an attack.
The blasts followed a vow from Iran's Revolutionary Guards that they would "give a devastating response" to fresh American strikes on the Islamic republic's territory.
Kuwait says responding to 'hostile' missile, drone attacks
Published: July 9, 2026 | 00:57 GMT | by AFP
Kuwait's air defenses were intercepting "hostile missile and drone attacks," its military said on Thursday.
"The General Staff of the Army notes that any explosions heard are a result of air defense systems intercepting hostile attacks," the Kuwait military said in a post on X, without specifying their origin.
US bombing to 'get much worse' if Iran doesn't halt attacks: Trump
Published: July 8, 2026 | 22:58 GMT | by AFP
President Donald Trump warned Wednesday that US bombing of Iran will increase significantly if Tehran continues to attack ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
"This is in retribution for yesterday’s bombing of ships by Iran. If it happens again, it will get much worse!" the US president posted on social media over a picture of an apparent bombing of a site in Iran.
US forces launch new strikes on Iran to curb threat to Hormuz: US military
Published: July 8, 2026 | 20:24 GMT | by AFP
The United States launched new strikes against Iran on Wednesday in a bid to curb Tehran's ability to target shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, the US military said.
US forces "have started conducting additional strikes against Iran to further degrade their ability to threaten freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz," US Central Command said on X, adding that Washington is "holding Iran accountable for recent unjustified aggression against commercial shipping."
Israeli attacks on Lebanon claim more lives as death toll rises
Published: July 8, 2026 | 18:45 GMT | by Web Desk
Israeli attacks on Lebanon between March 2 and July 8 have killed 4,321 people and wounded 12,203 others, AL Jazeera reported.
Lebanese state media says Israeli strike on south kills two
Published: July 8, 2026 | 18:45 GMT | by AFP
An Israeli strike on southern Lebanon killed two people on Wednesday, Lebanese state media reported.
"Two young men were martyred after being targeted by an enemy drone... while they were walking in the vicinity of Ghandour Hospital in Nabatieh al-Fawqa," Lebanon's state-run National News Agency said, two days after a strike on the same town killed four civilians including a school principal.
Islamabad urges all sides to uphold commitments
Published: July 8, 2026 | 18:26 GMT | by Web Desk
Pakistan on Wednesday expressed "deep concern" over the renewed escalation in the Middle East, warning that another conflict was "in no one's interest" and urging all parties to exercise restraint.
The Foreign Office called on all sides to refrain from actions that could further undermine regional peace and stability, saying "there is no alternative to continued engagement, dialogue and diplomacy" to achieve lasting peace.
It also urged all parties to uphold their commitments under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, describing the agreement as "an enduring foundation for understanding, mutual respect and shared prosperity for the region and beyond."
The Foreign Office said Pakistan remained ready to continue playing its role in supporting dialogue and diplomatic efforts to ease tensions.
For earlier developments, read our July 8 live blog here
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