The US-Iran conflict entered a dangerous new phase as Washington launched fresh airstrikes on Iran, targeting Revolutionary Guard facilities, missile sites and coastal defence systems. Tehran responded with missile and drone attacks towards Jordan and other Gulf states, prompting air defence alerts in Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan. The strikes also reportedly hit a nuclear construction site in Iran. Tensions remain high around the Strait of Hormuz, where shipping activity has sharply declined amid fears of wider escalation. Follow all the latest developments here: 06:41 AM, 20 July 2026We are closing this coverage now. For the latest updates, click here.04:41 AM, 20 July 2026Massive blaze reported after strike on IRGC Armored Brigade HQ in AbadanThe headquarters of an Iranian Revolutionary Guard armored brigade in the southwestern city of Abadan was reportedly struck Friday, sending large flames and thick plumes of smoke into the sky as military operations between the United States and Iran continued to intensify.Videos circulating on social media appeared to show a major fire burning at what multiple reports identified as the headquarters of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' (IRGC) 72nd Moharram Armored Brigade. The footage could not be independently verified, and there was no immediate confirmation from Iranian authorities or the US military.03:40 AM, 20 July 2026US military unleashes 9th night of strikes against Iran regime targetsUS Central Command forces confirmed the new wave of strikes against Iran at 7 pm ET Sunday (3 am Gulf Standard Time on Monday), the ninth consecutive night of operations aimed at degrading Iranian military capabilities used to attack commercial vessels and civilian mariners in the Strait of Hormuz. The strikes come amid ongoing tensions in the region, where Iranian forces have been accused of targeting shipping transiting the vital waterway. CentCom said the operations will continue to hold Iranian forces accountable.Details on specific targets hit or the extent of damage were not immediately released in the command's statement. 03:34 AM, 20 July 2026Hostile drone attacks intercepted: Kuwait Kuwaiti air defences intercepted hostile drone attacks over the country Sunday, the Kuwait Army General Staff said, attributing the strikes to Iranian aggression amid escalating regional tensions. In an official statement posted on X, the military said air defense systems were actively engaging the threats.It reassured the public that any sounds of explosions were the result of successful interceptions rather than impacts on the ground. "The Kuwaiti air defences are currently confronting hostile drone attacks following the sinful Iranian aggression," the statement said. It urged residents to follow all security and safety instructions from competent authorities. Kuwait has condemned such actions as violations of its sovereignty. No immediate reports of casualties or significant damage from Sunday's events were available. Kuwaiti forces have successfully intercepted numerous such threats in recent weeks, with debris occasionally causing limited material harm and minor injuries. bignewsnetwork.comThe situation remains fluid as regional tensions continue.03:05 AM, 20 July 2026Bahrain's air raid sirens soundedBahrain's interior ministry said overnight Sunday to Monday that its air raid sirens had sounded."The siren has been sounded," it said in a statement posted on X. "Citizens and residents are urged to remain calm and head to the nearest safe place."The island kingdom of Bahrain, host of the US Fifth Fleet, has been targeted by Iranian strikes in recent days.Kuwait and Bahrain, which host US military installations, have borne the brunt of attacks by Iran on its Gulf neighbours since hostilities resumed this month despite a ceasefire and memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran. Bahrain has accused Iran of targeting civilians in its attacks. 02:34 AM, 20 July 2026Iran regime launches missile strikes on 'enemy' targets in SyriaIran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it carried out a missile strike on what it described as an "enemy" special operations command centre in southeastern Syria, marking Tehran's first announced attack on Syrian territory since the regional war escalated earlier this year.Iran's state-run IRNA news agency reported that the attack targeted a US special operations command centre in the al-Tanf area near Syria's borders with Iraq and Jordan.The IRGC said the strike was launched in retaliation for the deaths of Iranian soldiers killed in a recent US missile attack on an army base in Iranshahr, in Iran's southeastern Sistan and Baluchestan province.02:10 AM, 20 July 2026Initial reports of up to 20 Iranian ballistic missiles launchesInitial reports of up to 20 Iranian ballistic missiles launches "minutes ago", targeting sites in Jordan, Bahrain, Kuwait and Iraq. Air raid sirens and interceptions had been reported in Bahrain, Kuwait, and other areas. Explosions and missile activity (including visuals of missiles over Bahrain) are circulating, as per @GlobalOsintNew.These are initial reports — details on exact numbers, success of intercepts, damage, or casualties are still emerging and often contested (Iran claims hits on military targets; defenders report most interceptions). There's no independent confirmation of widespread impacts yet, consistent with prior exchanges. The situation remains fluid amid the broader conflict. 01:44 AM, 20 July 2026Explosions reported in multiple central Iranian citiesAmid escalating US-Iran tensions, a series of explosions rocked central Iran late on Sunday, with loud blasts reported in the cities of Arak, Saveh, Khomein, Qom and Isfahan, according to local sources and social media monitors. The reports emerged shortly before midnight local time, sparking speculation about possible military activity as the United States and Iran continue trading strikes in an on-again, off-again conflict that has simmered since early 2026. No immediate claims of responsibility were made, and Iranian state media had not confirmed the incidents or provided details on damage or casualties as of early Monday.12:07 AM, 20 July 2026 Washington sought to 'punish' Tehran for attacks on US military sitesThe United States and Iran traded missiles and airstrikes late on Sunday as Washington sought to "punish" Tehran for the US military's first losses since open hostilities in the Middle East war resumed.A preliminary deal aimed at ending the war has collapsed as the foes fight to break a deadlock over the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway key to the world's oil supply.Iran said it targeted two US bases in Kuwait in response to more than a week of intensifying attacks, which Tehran says have hit transport and infrastructure sites, including an under-construction nuclear power plant.Jordan also reported intercepting missiles, a day after the US military said two service members were killed there Friday and another had gone missing in action as they "defended against Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks". US Central Command announced that a service member died in northern Iraq during the controlled detonation of an unexploded ordnance from a downed Iranian drone.The US military carried out an eighth consecutive night of strikes against Iran to "swiftly punish Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces who launched attacks against American service members", Central Command said.Saturday's death brought to 17 the confirmed number of American military fatalities since the US and Israel launched the war with a wave of strikes on Iranian targets on February 28.11:45 PM, 19 July 2026US service member killed in Iraq during 'controlled detonation' of Iranian droneAn American service member was killed Saturday in Iraq during 'controlled detonation' of a downed Iranian drone, the US military said Sunday, just a day after announcing the deaths of two other US service members following an Iranian attack on a base in Jordan.Sunday's announcement brings the death toll of US service members to 17 during the conflict with Iran. More than 430 American troops have been wounded.11:01 PM, 19 July 2026Indian Embassy in Iran issues revised advisory for nationalsThe Indian Embassy in Iran on Sunday issued a revised advisory for Indian nationals amid an increase in levels of instability and conflict in Iran.The advisory asked the nationals to postpone travel to Iran and asked any Indians who are already in Iran to consider leaving temporarily."Indian nationals intending to travel to Iran for any purpose should postpone travel for the time being until the security environment improves. Indians already in Iran should consider temporarily exiting Iran, using available flight options," stated the advisory."Indian nationals who choose to remain in Iran should exercise the highest possible level of caution. They should carefully monitor the news to maintain full situational awareness and should avoid locations seeing higher levels of military activity, such as those along the southern coast of the country. Instructions issued by local authorities should be complied with carefully," it added.The Embassy also asked any Indian nationals present in Iran who have not yet registered their details with the Embassy to do so immediately, and to regularly monitor the Embassy's website and social media handles for further updates.10:22 PM, 19 July 2026Iraq PM to visit Iran this week after trip to USIraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi is scheduled to visit Iran later this week following a trip to the US where he met President Donald Trump, Iraqi state media reported Sunday.Washington and Tehran are Iraq's main allies, but their enmity has long turned the country into a proxy battleground and left successive governments struggling to maintain a delicate balance between the foes, who have traded intensifying attacks in recent days.Iraq's national news agency INA quoted the foreign ministry as saying Zaidi will visit Tehran "at the end of this week" and is expected to sign memorandums of understanding "to strengthen bilateral ties".It will be his first trip to Iran since coming to power this year with Washington's blessing after Trump vetoed another candidate.Zaidi returned to Iraq on Sunday after his one-week trip to the United States, having struck 48 agreements and partnerships with American companies.A businessman, he has vowed to boost Iraq's fragile economy and disarm pro-Iran groups that have targeted US facilities.In recent days, attacks blamed on Iran have rocked Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region, which hosts US troops and foreign oil companies, as well as exiled Iranian Kurdish rebels.Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - simply click here.09:17 PM, 19 July 2026Jordan summons Iran charge d'affaires to protest ongoing attacks Jordan's ministry of foreign affairs said Sunday that it summoned Iran's charge d'affaires in Amman in order to demand an immediate end to Iranian attacks.In a statement, the ministry said it had delivered a "message of strong protest against the continuation of brutal and unjustified Iranian acts of aggression targeting the Kingdom's territory".08:19 PM, 19 July 2026Rubio hails Lebanon for peace efforts after meeting presidentUS Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in Washington on Sunday, hailing the country for its "move towards peace" after the latest round of Lebanon-Israel talks.Rubio "commended the courage of the Government of Lebanon, under President Aoun's leadership, for their determined effort to reclaim Lebanon's sovereignty, disarm Hezbollah and dismantle its terrorist infrastructure, and move towards peace," the State Department said.07:47 PM, 19 July 2026UN watchdog calls for restraintThe UN's nuclear watchdog called for restraint on Sunday after Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation said the US had attacked an under-construction nuclear power plant in the country's southwest.Tehran's Atomic Energy Organisation said US forces "in an aggressive and brutal act contrary to international law, attacked the under-construction Darkhovin nuclear power plant... with a number of projectiles on Sunday", according to a statement carried by state TV.The UN's International Atomic Energy Agency said it was looking into the reports, noting the plant "is in the very early stages of construction and contained no nuclear material when last visited by the IAEA".While the incident "is not believed to pose any radiological risk", IAEA director Rafael Grossi reiterated his "call for military restraint in the vicinity of all nuclear-related sites", the agency said, in a post on X.06:55 PM, 19 July 2026Israel warns will respond to any Iran attack with 'full force'Israel's defence minister said Sunday that his country would respond powerfully to any attack by Iran, after Israeli and Jordanian forces intercepted an Iranian missile launched towards the Jordanian city of Aqaba."If Iran fires missiles at Israel, we will attack them with full force," Israel Katz said during a visit to a rescue service facility."If the United States changes its policy, which is also something that could happen, we are prepared for both defensive and offensive" action against Tehran, he added.Aqaba lies just across the border from the Israeli city of Eilat.Later, Israeli military chief Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir also vowed to retaliate with "determination" if Iran attacked Israel."We monitored today's launch toward the Aqaba area, and our Aerial Defence Array remains on alert to protect Israeli civilians," Zamir told military commanders in the occupied West Bank, according to a statement issued by the military."We are prepared to immediately resume combat and will act with great determination against anyone who harms us."06:04 PM, 19 July 2026UAE condemns renewed attacks on Bahrain, Kuwait, JordanThe UAE has condemned in the strongest terms the renewed hostile attacks by Iran targeting the Kingdom of Bahrain, the State of Kuwait, and the Hashemite Kingdom of 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.The Ministry reiterated the UAE’s full solidarity with the Kingdom of Bahrain, the State of Kuwait, and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and its support for all measures aimed at safeguarding their security and stability.04:51 PM, 19 July 2026Israel says Iran missile towards Jordan's Aqaba interceptedIsraeli and Jordanian forces intercepted an Iranian missile aimed at the Jordanian city of Aqaba on Sunday, the Israeli military told AFP.When asked by AFP about reports of explosions near the Israeli city of Eilat, a military spokeswoman said both Israeli and Jordanian forces had intercepted a projectile.04:29 PM, 19 July 2026Sirens sound in Jordanian capital AmmanSirens sounded in the Jordanian capital Amman on Sunday, an AFP correspondent said, as the United States and Iran exchanged drone and missile attacks.Jordan's state-run Al-Mamlaka channel also reported that "sirens have been activated in different parts of the kingdom".Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - simply click here.04:24 PM, 19 July 2026Israel says identified launch of missiles from Iran towards Jordan's AqabaThe Israeli military said Sunday it had idenfied missiles launched from Iran towards Aqaba in Jordan, after Jordan's government denied the city's airport and seaport were evacuated over a threat."A short while ago, the IDF identified the launch of missiles from Iran toward the city of Aqaba in Jordan, adjacent to Israeli territory," the military said. "It is possible that as a result of the fire, there will be spillover into Israeli territory."03:59 PM, 19 July 2026Jordan denies evacuating Aqaba airport and seaportJordan's government denied on Sunday that authorities had ordered the evacuation of the airport and seaport in the coastal city of Aqaba, after the US embassy in Amman said the transport hubs had been evacuated over a threat.Jordanian government spokesman Mohammad Al Momani told AFP that "authorities have not issued any decisions to evacuate Aqaba Airport or the seaport, and both are operating normally", adding that no "potential threats" had been detected.The US embassy in Amman had said earlier that Jordanian authorities evacuated the airport and the seaport in Aqaba, citing an unspecified threat.03:33 PM, 19 July 2026Kuwait says water, power plant on fire after second hit in daysAn Iranian attack on a power and water plant in Kuwait caused a fire for the second day in a row on Sunday, Kuwaiti authorities said, as Tehran retaliates to US strikes with attacks across the Gulf region."As a result of the heinous Iranian agression on Kuwait, a power and water distillation plant, for the second time in two days, has been subjected to an attack that caused a fire in some facilities of the station," the Kuwaiti ministry of electricity, water and renewable energy said in a statement on X, adding that firefighters were working to extinguish the blaze.Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - simply click here.03:05 PM, 19 July 2026Iran announces execution of two anti-govt protesters Iran's judiciary announced that two men were hanged on Sunday over charges relating to anti-government protests that peaked in January, having begun a month earlier over economic grievances.The two men, Erfan Esfandiari and Gol-Mohammad Mohammadi, were found guilty of "tying police officers to a road sign with ropes, injuring them with stones, dousing them with gasoline, and setting them on fire", said the judiciary, without giving their ages.03:01 PM, 19 July 2026Iran says US attacked under-construction nuclear power plantIran's Atomic Energy Organisation on Sunday said the United States attacked an under-construction nuclear power plant in the country's southwest, as tensions between Tehran and Washington escalate.US forces "in an aggressive and brutal act contrary to international law, attacked the under-construction Darkhovin nuclear power plant... with a number of projectiles on Sunday," the organisation said in a statement carried by state TV.02:39 PM, 19 July 2026Jordan says no threats registered in past hoursJordanian authorities said no potential threats have been recorded by the relevant security agencies during the past several hours.The statement comes after heightened regional security concerns, with authorities continuing to monitor developments and assess any potential risks.02:26 PM, 19 July 2026Iran says stopped two ships trying to transit Hormuz straitIran said on Sunday that it stopped two ships trying to transit the Strait of Hormuz without authorisation, as tensions escalate between Tehran and Washington over control of the crucial waterway."Four violating ships, with the mischief and support of American terrorists... intended to disrupt and exit the Strait of Hormuz via an unsafe route, two of which had an accident and were stopped in place," Iran's Revolutionary Guards said in a statement, adding the two other ships abandoned their journey.01:51 PM, 19 July 2026US Embassy warns Americans in JordanThe US Embassy in Amman on Sunday issued a security alert, saying Jordanian authorities had evacuated Aqaba’s international airport and seaport due to a 'specific and credible threat'.The embassy advised US citizens to avoid travelling to either facility and urged them to continue following all security instructions issued by Jordanian authorities.It also reiterated its advisory for Americans to avoid travel to military bases in Jordan.Read more here.01:31 PM, 19 July 2026Kuwait PM visits injured after Iranian attackKuwait’s Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah on Sunday visited people injured in the Iranian attack on civilian and vital facilities who are receiving treatment at Al Adan Hospital.Accompanied by Health Minister Dr Ahmad Al Awadhi, the Prime Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting the injured until their recovery.He directed authorities to provide all necessary medical and technical resources to ensure they receive the required care, while offering prayers for their speedy recovery.12:30 PM, 19 July 2026Air raid sirens sound in Bahrain: interior ministryAir raid sirens sounded in the tiny Gulf kingdom of Bahrain on Sunday as Iran and the United States traded fresh strikes over control of the vital Strait of Hormuz."The siren has been sounded. Citizens and residents are urged to remain calm and head to the nearest safe place," the interior ministry said in a statement, while an AFP journalist confirmed sirens had rung out in Bahrain's capital Manama.12:18 PM, 19 July 2026IRGC claims it intercepted US MQ-9 droneIran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed it shot down a US MQ-9 Reaper drone over Ahvaz in Khuzestan province. The claim has not been independently verified.The MQ-9 Reaper is a remotely piloted unmanned aerial vehicle used primarily for intelligence gathering, surveillance, reconnaissance missions and precision strikes, according to the US Air Force.The reported incident comes as the US said it had completed an eighth consecutive night of strikes against Iran, launched after two American service members were killed in an Iranian attack on a base in Jordan.Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - simply click here.12:10 PM, 19 July 2026Iranian lawmaker issues direct warning to US troopsA senior Iranian lawmaker warned US troops on Sunday referring to a written message from Mojtaba Khamenei, saying that American soldiers would flee if they understood what the new supreme leader meant by "unforgettable lessons.""If American soldiers knew what the Leader meant by 'unforgettable lessons' for them, they would not waste even a second before fleeing," Ebrahim Azizi, chairman of parliament's National Security Committee, wrote on X.Mojtaba Khamenei, the Islamic Republic's third supreme leader, said in a written message on Saturday that "the Iranian nation has unforgettable lessons for the American enemy."10:45 AM, 19 July 2026Kuwait military says responding to Iran missile, drone attacksKuwait’s armed forces said its air defence systems are intercepting incoming Iranian missiles and drones.In a statement, the army said any explosions heard were the result of air defence systems responding to hostile attacks, and urged residents to follow safety and security instructions.07:39 AM, 19 July 2026US completes 8th consecutive night of strikes on IranThe US military has carried out another round of strikes against Iran, marking the eighth consecutive night of operations, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said.CENTCOM said the strikes targeted Iranian coastal surveillance and air defence facilities, maritime capabilities, and missile and drone storage sites to degrade Tehran’s military capabilities. US forces also targeted Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) elements linked to attacks on American service members in Jordan.07:20 AM, 19 July 2026US issues global travel alert for citizensThe US State Department has advised Americans worldwide to exercise increased caution amid heightened tensions in the Middle East and warned of the potential for further escalation.In a travel advisory, the department said the security environment remains complex and urged US citizens in the region to stay alert, monitor breaking developments and follow guidance issued by the nearest US embassy or consulate.The advisory also warned of possible travel disruptions caused by flight cancellations and temporary airspace closures, adding that US diplomatic facilities and American interests overseas have been targeted.06:55 AM, 19 July 2026Iran army says targeted US bases in Kuwait with dronesIran's army said on Sunday it had targeted two US bases in Kuwait with drones in response to American attacks on Iranian territory.The Islamic republic's army said it carried out "large-scale attacks with kamikaze drones against the U.S. military's ammunition depot at Camp Udairi and the Patriot radar system and air surveillance radar at Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait", according to a statement carried by the state broadcaster.06:37 AM, 19 July 2026US says strikes punish IRGC after Jordan attack