LiveLive Updates July 16, 2026Share to FacebookShare to XArticle printing is available to subscribers onlyPrint in a simple, ad-free formatSubscribeComments: Zen reading is available to subscribers onlyAd-free and in a comfortable reading formatSubscribeJuly 16, 2026UpdatesReports: Bridge in Bandar Khamir, airport in Iranshahr targeted in U.S. attacksIran's semi official Fars news agency reported Thursday that a bridge in Bandar Khamir has been targeted in a U.S. attack.Meanwhile, Tasnim - another semi-official news agency - reported that U.S. aircraft carried out a heavy airstrike on the airport in the southeastern Iranian city of Iranshahr on Thursday.Local residents reported hearing three powerful explosions in the vicinity of the airport, with eyewitness accounts describing a significant bombardment.Senior security officials stationed in the region deployed to the site shortly after the attack. There was no immediate information on casualties or the extent of the damage.25 minutes agoAt U.S. summit on ‘radical left’ terror, Sa'ar accuses Hamas of funding Gaza flotillasForeign Minister Gideon Sa'ar listens to remarks by White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller during a ministerial meeting on political violence, at the State Department in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 16, 2026. Credit: REUTERS/Jonathan ErnstForeign Minister Gideon Sa'ar listens to remarks by White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller during a ministerial meeting on political violence, at the State Department in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 16, 2026. Credit: REUTERS/Jonathan ErnstForeign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, speaking at a major U.S.-organized ministerial meeting aimed at launching the Trump administration's "unprecedented global offensive against the transnational threat of Radical Left terrorism," accused Hamas of funding what he called "provocative flotillas to Gaza."Sa'ar told the conference, which was attended by officials from over 60 nations in Washington on Thursday, that "terrorist organizations operate hand-in-hand with radical left-wing forces and build an operational alliance with extreme left-wing elements in Western democracies in Europe, Latin America, Africa and beyond."Citing the Global Sumud Flotilla, Sa'ar said that "the purpose of the flotilla was to breach a legal naval blockade and serve the interests of terrorist organizations, mostly Hamas," adding that "Hamas documents seized by the IDF point to funding, operational involvement and covert ownership of the vessels through a Spanish front company."U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told the conference that the U.S. will push to focus international counterterrorism efforts on "far-left terror."In his speech, Rubio said the Islamic militancy threat was "severely diminished" due to coordinated international efforts but that rising left-wing violence was a "blind spot.""We can and we must identify and map this threat and rebuild our counterterrorism architecture to defeat it," Rubio said, citing a transnational threat from groups who hate the West and target its politicians and infrastructure.The White House, meanwhile, issued a statement saying that, "Under the leadership of President Donald J. Trump, far-left extremism will be treated with the same seriousness and ferocity the world has long reserved for jihadist terrorism."Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced new tools aimed at combatting illicit funding, saying "at President Trump's direction, Treasury is expanding its efforts to identify organizations that abuse charitable and nonprofit structures as vehicles for illicit finance. We are examining where tax-exempt status has been exploited, where charitable entities have become financial conduits for foreign influence activity."Homeland Security Advisor Stephen Miller said "one of the hallmarks of left-wing violence and terrorism is its completely pre-textual and disingenuous appeal to civil liberties in an effort to shield its own violence.""When the leftist, who does not believe in freedom, who does not believe in civil rights, who does not believe in any ordinary notion of justice, protests that we are violating his rights, understand that he is lying to try to persuade people who are not closely following the political scene that some injustice has been perpetrated against him. We must stay the course and be completely unflinching in the pursuit of justice against these enemies of civilization," he added.Herzog says peace with Saudi Arabia is his 'dream' in interview with Saudi mediaIsraeli President Isaac Herzog sits for an interview with Al Arabiya English's Melinda Nucifora on Thursday in Jerusalem. Credit: Al Arabiya English/Youtube Israeli President Isaac Herzog sits for an interview with Al Arabiya English's Melinda Nucifora on Thursday in Jerusalem. Credit: Al Arabiya English/Youtube Israeli President Isaac Herzog said Thursday that achieving peace and normalization with Saudi Arabia is his "dream," expressing respect for Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and saying Israel wants to normalize relations between the two In an interview with state-owned Al-Arabiya English at his Jerusalem residence, Herzog said, "The dialogue between Jerusalem and Mecca should be the real gist of it," adding that Jews and Muslims "need to dwell together in this region in peace." While Herzog said he couldn't "come to Riyadh just as an ordinary citizen, he hoped to one day meet Saudi leadership officially. Herzog also addressed recent Iranian attacks in the region, saying he was not surprised given what he described as Iran's pattern of behavior. He welcomed what he called a firm American response and said Iran must "go back on track" if it wants to implement an exit from the war. "It is impossible to do deals," he said. "They violate them all the time."On U.S.-Israel relations, Herzog said there is "a close and good dialogue," including behind closed doors, while acknowledging that differences can occur. He praised U.S. President Donald Trump, U.S. Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the administration, and said Israel supports broader connectivity between East and West. Herzog also highlighted Israel's ties with Morocco, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates through the Abraham Accords, calling them an example of successful regional relations.RECAP: U.S. launches fifth consecutive wave of Iran strikes; Iranian media report missile hits near coast Here are Thursday's latest updates:■ The U.S. military began its fifth consecutive night of strikes against Iran at 2 P.M., U.S. Central Command said.■ Iranian state TV and the Fars News Agency reported that "American projectiles" and missiles hit areas near the port city of Bandar Abbas, while Mehr News Agency reported that U.S. projectiles struck near Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz.■ Sailors on vessels near the Strait of Hormuz expressed frustration with the U.S. military after it radioed a message Tuesday asserting the southern route through the strait "remains open," The Wall Street Journal reported.■ Israeli strikes killed at least five Palestinians in the Gaza Strip on Thursday, Palestinian health officials said, ⁠as a U.S.-based research group reported a surge in Israeli attacks to levels not seen since the latest truce took effect in October.■ Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, the director of a major Gaza hospital who has been imprisoned by Israel since 2024, told his lawyer he was assaulted by prison guards following his previous lawyer's visit earlier this month.■ About 200 ultra-Orthodox demonstrators blocked a major highway near central Israel's Petah Tikva in protest against the arrests of draft evaders. Police detained one demonstrator on suspicion of threats and public disorder.■ Lebanon's National News Agency said a large explosion was heard following an Israeli military operation near the southern Lebanese town of Zawtar al-Gharbiyah, one of three villages from which the Israeli military is slated to withdraw under a Washington-sponsored ceasefire.Iran judiciary denies Trump statement that American prisoner was freed ⁠Iran's ‌judiciary said that ‌no American prisoner had been ⁠released or ⁠exchanged from its prisons, Iranian state media reported on Thursday, after U.S. ‌President Donald Trump said ‌a U.S. citizen detained during the Biden administration in 2024 had been freed.The judiciary said checks showed ⁠no convicted American prisoner, person accused of ‌spying for ⁠the United ‌States matching Trump's description, or any other American ⁠detainee had been released from Iranian prisons or ‌exchanged.2 hours agoU.S. begins fifth wave of Iran strikes, CENTCOM saysThe U.S. military began a fresh wave of strikes against Iran at 2 P.M. Thursday, U.S. Central Command said.According to the statement, this marked the fifth consecutive night of strikes, which were designed to "further degrade Iranian military capabilities."U.S. forces hit targets farther north and fired into a ship they accused of trying to break the naval blockade on the Islamic Republic. Iran retaliated by launching missiles and drones at U.S. allies in the region and warned its attacks may escalate.Later Thursday, Iranian state TV and the Fars News Agency reported that "American projectiles" and missiles hit areas near the port city of Bandar Abbas, while Mehr News Agency reported that U.S. projectiles struck near Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz.State TV also reported explosions were heard in southern Iran's Bushehr.Iran remains in contact with U.S., seeks deal, White House saysIran remains interested in an agreement with Washington, U.S. government spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Thursday."Iran very much continues to talk to the United States of America and expressed that they want to make a deal with us" Leavitt said in her first public appearance at the White House since the birth of her second child in May.She said Iran wants to talk because they are "suffering devastating blows" delivered by the U.S. military.Leavitt said the U.S. has been hitting Iranian targets for days "because of the conduct of Iran's leadership." The U.S. said Iran violated a recent agreement by attacking ships in the Strait of Hormuz.Iranian media report U.S. strikes near Bandar Abbas, Qeshm Island Iranian news agencies reported Thursday that U.S. missiles and projectiles struck two locations along Iran's coast.Mehr News Agency reported that U.S. projectiles struck near Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz. Fars News Agency reported that U.S. missiles struck near the port city of Bandar Abbas.Houthi leader threatens Saudi oil facilities if Riyadh escalates in YemenYemen's Houthi ⁠leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi ‌said on Thursday that all Saudi oil ‌and other vital facilities would be targets for the ⁠group's missiles and drones if Riyadh escalated its involvement in ⁠the conflict. Vehicles pass under a billboard showing Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi, in Sanaa, Yemen, in June. Credit: Osamah Abdulrahman/AP Vehicles pass under a billboard showing Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi, in Sanaa, Yemen, in June. Credit: Osamah Abdulrahman/AP "The real equation is Sanaa airport for Riyadh airport, airports for airports, ports for ports, and blockade ‌for blockade," he said in ⁠a televised speech.The warning came after the Houthis fired missiles at Saudi Arabia, accusing the kingdom of bombing an airport under their control on Monday, marking a rupture in ‌a four-year truce between the two sides.The Iran-aligned Houthis ‌have previously targeted Saudi energy infrastructure. In 2019, they claimed responsibility for attacks on two key Saudi oil facilities that temporarily knocked out more than half of the kingdom's crude output.In 2022, they struck Saudi energy facilities again. At the time, the Saudi-led coalition said an Aramco petroleum products distribution station in Jeddah was hit and caught ⁠fire.Yemen has been mired ‌in civil war for more than a decade since the Houthis seized the capital, Sanaa, prompting a Saudi-led military intervention ⁠in 2015 in support of the internationally recognised government.The conflict has since evolved into one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, leaving the country divided between ‌a Saudi-backed government in Aden and a Houthi administration in Sanaa.In the NewsHaaretz Cartoon'Israel Isn't anti-Arab – Just Look at How It Treats Its Arab Citizens'Israel's Knesset Approves Bill Legalizing Gender Segregation in UniversitiesMorocco Used Israeli Surveillance to Hack Senior French and Spanish OfficialsIsraeli Rights Groups Alarmed Over Reports Shin Bet Tracking Reporters, SourcesRemembering and rebuilding two years laterICYMIInside the Mossad Plot to Install Ahmadinejad as Iran's LeaderEgypt Lost the World Cup. 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