The US has launched its 11th consecutive night of strikes against Iran as the conflict continues to escalate across the region. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said the war has cost Washington $37.5 billion so far, while experts estimate the actual bill could be higher. US Central Command confirmed the latest strikes, with President Donald Trump warning that the US could soon target Pickaxe Mountain, a fortified underground site linked to Iran’s nuclear programme. Tehran said any attack on its nuclear facilities would be treated as an expansion of the war. Meanwhile, Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan reported intercepting aerial attacks, while Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen warned Saudi vessels against using the Red Sea. Follow our live coverage for the latest developments:06:57 AM, 23 July 2026We are closing this coverage now. For the latest updates, click here.06:56 AM, 23 July 2026US Air Force E-3 Sentry AWACS declares in-flight emergency
A US Air Force E-3B Sentry airborne warning and control aircraft declared a general in-flight emergency Thursday while operating over Saudi Arabia, according to flight tracking data. The aircraft began squawking the international emergency transponder code 7700 shortly before 1:30 a.m. UTC (5:30 AM in Gulf Standard Time (GST) on Thursday (July 23, 2026), Flightradar24 reported. The plane had been active for hours in the region near the Arabian Gulf. No immediate details were available on the nature of the emergency, and US military officials have not publicly commented. The E-3B, a militarised Boeing 707 variant equipped with a distinctive rotating radar dome, provides critical command, control and surveillance capabilities. It is frequently deployed in high-tempo operations in the Middle East.04:10 AM, 23 July 2026Iran warns 'eye for an eye' Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran would respond in kind to any attack on its infrastructure, after Washington threatened to bomb a bridge or power plant for every ship targeted in the Strait of Hormuz."Our defence doctrine is clear: eye for an eye. Any aggression against Iran, including our infrastructure, will compel a powerful and decisive response," Araghchi stated on X.03:52 AM, 23 July 2026Kuwait air defences responding to hostile attacksKuwait's military said its air defence systems intercepted hostile drones on Thursday following what it described as an Iranian attack, urging residents to remain calm and follow official safety instructions.In a statement, the General Staff of the Kuwaiti Army said air defences were "confronting attacks by hostile drones" and noted that any explosions heard by the public were the result of interception operations.The military called on residents to adhere to security and safety directives issued by the country's competent authorities.The statement came amid heightened tensions in the Gulf as the conflict involving Iran continues to escalate. Kuwaiti authorities did not immediately provide details on the number of drones intercepted, whether any damage had been reported, or if there were casualties. Iran has not immediately commented on the allegation.03:20 AM, 23 July 2026Houthis claim missile, drone strikes on two Saudi oil tankersYemen's Houthi rebels said they carried out missile and drone strikes Wednesday on two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea after declaring a maritime embargo on the kingdom amid the US war with Iran, AFP reported.The Houthis said in a statement posted on Telegram that they "carried out a qualitative military operation targeting two Saudi oil tankers that violated the blockade", naming the vessels as the Encelia and the Layla.02:54 AM, 23 July 2026US military launches 12th consecutive strikes on Iran targetsUS Central Command forces began a new round of strikes against Iranian military targets overnight on Thursday (July 23), the military said, as part of an ongoing campaign to degrade Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping in regional waters.Iran state media reported early Thursday (Tehran time) that the cities of Ramshir and Ahvaz, in the country's southwest, were under "missile attack by the US terrorist enemy," while authorities in Bushehr province, along Iran's Gulf coast, reported an attack there by a US missile.In a post on X, CentCom stated that strikes commenced at 5:30 pm ET on Wednesday July 22 (1.30am Gulf Standard Time on July 23, 2026) , and “will continue to further degrade Iran’s ability to threaten civilian mariners and commercial vessels transiting regional waters.”The announcement comes amid escalating tensions between the US and Iran, with repeated American strikes, now on its 12th consecutive days/nights since fighting resumed.CentCom has conducted multiple rounds of operations targeting Iranian command centres, air defenses, missile and drone sites, coastal facilities and communications networks.02:33 AM, 23 July 2026Trump approves landmark US-Saudi nuclear deal
