LiveLive Updates July 29, 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 29, 2026UpdatesIran to get Chinese shoulder-launched missile systems in weeks, sources sayIran is expected to receive within weeks a first shipment out of up to 400 Chinese-made shoulder-fired air-defence missile launchers, three sources familiar with the deal told Reuters, as it rebuilds its defences amid war with the United States.The national flags of China and Iran fly in Tiananmen Square, China, 2023. Credit: REUTERS/Thomas Peter/File PhotoThe national flags of China and Iran fly in Tiananmen Square, China, 2023. Credit: REUTERS/Thomas Peter/File PhotoThe purchase, valued at $60-70 million, is one of Tehran's largest-known efforts to strengthen its short-range air ‌defences since the outbreak of its war with the United States and Israel, which exposed gaps in Iran's ability to protect military sites and strategic infrastructure.The contract covers the purchase of between 300 and 400 man-portable air defence systems, including Chinese-made QW-12 and FN-16 missiles, the sources said.The deal was signed with Zhongqing Baoshang International Investment, a Hong Kong-based company that the sources said was acting as an intermediary between the Iranian side and the Chinese supplier.Read the full articleRECAP: U.S., Saudi Arabia say they struck Iran-backed militias in Iraq; U.S. says it intercepted Iranian missiles launched towards U.S. baseHere are Wednesday's latest updates:■ U.S. Central Command and Saudi Arabia's armed forces conducted strikes in Iraq on what the U.S. said were sites of Iran-backed militant groups that were directed by Tehran to attack American forces and Saudi energy infrastructure, the U.S. military said.■ The U.S. military said it intercepted multiple ballistic missiles launched by Iran towards U.S. forces in the Middle East in what Washington cast as "an attempted surprise attack" by Tehran.■ Iran's Revolutionary Guards said three oil tankers were "struck and stopped" after ignoring warnings in the Strait of Hormuz.■ Tehran has ‌ruled out Oman's proposal ⁠for regional ⁠joint management of the Strait of Hormuz, saying it ‌has no ‌chance of success, a senior Iranian official told Reuters.■ Jordan said it shot down five missiles coming from Iran, Jordanian state media said.■ Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Fox News he is "skeptical" about the deal between the United States and Iran, warning Tehran that "if we're attacked, then we'll respond with terrific force."■ The United Nations condemned Israeli army raids on the UNRWA training center in Qalandiya in East Jerusalem, saying Israeli forces "confined educational staff and students while conducting operations on the premises."Iran rejects Omani proposal for joint management of Hormuz, senior Iranian official saysThe Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier vessel Manta Ursula is pictured moored in Muscat on Saturday. Credit: AFPThe Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier vessel Manta Ursula is pictured moored in Muscat on Saturday. Credit: AFPTehran has ‌ruled out Oman's proposal ⁠for regional ⁠joint management of the Strait of Hormuz, saying it ‌has no ‌chance of success, a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Wednesday.The U.S. and ⁠Saudi Arabia are trying to ‌pressure ⁠Oman ‌to advance their "unrealistic plans" regarding the strategic strait, ⁠the official added.U.S. and Saudi Arabia say they struck Iran-backed militias in IraqU.S. Central Command and Saudi Arabia's armed forces conducted strikes in Iraq on what the U.S. said were sites of Iran-backed militant groups that were directed by Tehran to attack American forces and Saudi energy infrastructure, the U.S. military said.Iranian pilgrims arrive at the Mundhiriya border crossing on their way to Karbala to attend the annual Arbaeen pilgrimage, in Diyala province, Iraq, Tuesday. Credit: Ahmed Saad/ REUTERSIranian pilgrims arrive at the Mundhiriya border crossing on their way to Karbala to attend the annual Arbaeen pilgrimage, in Diyala province, Iraq, Tuesday. Credit: Ahmed Saad/ REUTERSU.S. and Saudi fighter aircraft struck those groups' logistics and weapons sites across eastern Iraq, Washington said, urging Iran and its proxies to "cease these attacks to avoid further U.S. military response."Saudi Arabia also confirmed the strikes in Iraq that it said were coordinated with the Central Command. Saudi Arabia's government said it did not seek escalation but would respond to any "aggression." Riyadh cast the strikes as a response to drone attacks on oil facilities.The U.S. military said earlier it intercepted multiple ballistic missiles launched by Iran towards U.S. forces in the Middle East in what Washington cast as "an attempted surprise attack" by Tehran. Iran's Revolutionary Guards later said they fired several ballistic missiles at a U.S. air base and a U.S. military Central Command center in Jordan, in what they described as a response to U.S. actions against Iranian interests.U.S. says it intercepted Iranian ballistic missiles launched towards U.S. forces in Middle EastMilitary helicopters and personnel operate in a location given as the Arabian Sea in this screengrab obtained from a video released by CENTCOM) on Saturday. Credit: U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND/ REUTERSMilitary helicopters and personnel operate in a location given as the Arabian Sea in this screengrab obtained from a video released by CENTCOM) on Saturday. Credit: U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND/ REUTERSThe U.S. military said on Tuesday it intercepted multiple ballistic missiles launched by Iran towards U.S. forces in the Middle East in what Washington cast as "an attempted surprise attack" by Tehran.The statement by the U.S. Central Command did not mention the exact location it said Iran attempted to target.At 5:45 p.m. ET today, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces launched multiple ballistic missiles from Iran in an attempted surprise attack on U.S. forces based in the Middle East. All Iranian missiles were successfully intercepted. U.S. forces remain vigilant and at a highShow moreIran's Revolutionary Guards later said they fired several ballistic missiles at a U.S. air base and a U.S. military Central Command center in Jordan, in what they described as a response to U.S. actions against Iranian interests.Axios reported earlier, citing a U.S. official, that Iran had launched ballistic missiles towards a U.S. base in Jordan and the missiles were intercepted."Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces launched multiple ballistic missiles from Iran in an attempted surprise attack on U.S. forces based in the Middle East. All Iranian missiles were successfully intercepted," the Central Command said on X.9 hours agoNetanyahu decries 'hate-spewing' Mamdani, says he's skeptical about Trump deal with Iran Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Fox News on Tuesday that he is "skeptical" about the deal between the United States and Iran, warning Tehran that "if we're attacked then we'll respond with terrific force." Netanyahu added that the Iranian regime "is attacking everyone in sight: Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, the UAE and others. Imagine what they'd do to the world if they had nuclear weapons," he added."I hate to disappoint people looking for divisions among us because the president and I see this eye to eye" the prime minister said. "What they find like today is a wall of granite. We have a common commitment. We don't want to see this fanatic regime in Tehran have nuclear weapons. We have a common goal, and it's gonna be achieved."Netanyahu also described New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who has called for his arrest while on U.S. soil, as a "hate-spewing elected official pitting one group of New Yorkers against the other, turning them against New York Jews. What are we, in the 1930s? So much hate, so many lies. The big lie is about the so-called ICC," he added.UN condemns Israeli army raids on UNRWA training center in QalandiyaThe United Nations condemned Israeli army raids on the UNRWA training center in Qalandiya in East Jerusalem."We are deeply dismayed by yesterday's forcible entry of Israeli forces into the United Nations Qalandiya Training Centre, where they gathered and confined educational staff and students while conducting operations on the premises," according to a joint statement issued by the Humanitarian Country Team of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, a forum comprising heads of UN entities and non-governmental organizations.It was further noted that "this comes amid broader efforts to obstruct the Agency's operations across the Occupied Palestinian Territory, as well as those of non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The raid breached the inviolability of United Nations premises and violated Israel's obligations regarding the privileges and immunities of the UN."Read the full articleRECAP: U.S., Israeli lawmakers mark year since Palestinian activist Awdah al-Hathaleen killed by settler, call to 'end occupation'Here are Tuesday's latest updates:■ At the memorial service of late activist Awdah al-Hathaleen, a prominent community activist killed a year ago by a settler in the South Hebron Hills, Hadash MK Ofer Cassif told Haaretz that a Border Police officer pushed him; U.S. Democratic Representative Ro Khanna emphasized that settler violence in the West Bank is "rapidly increasing," adding, "It is our responsibility as Americans to stand up for peace and end this occupation."■ The Carter Center, an NGO founded by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, called upon the United States and the international community to prohibit trade with Israeli settlements and ban settlement products from their markets■ Yemen's ‌Houthis said they ⁠had fired ⁠ballistic missiles at a Saudi oil tanker, accusing the vessel ‌of violating ‌what they described as their maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia in the Red ⁠Sea and ignoring warning calls.■ Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen, a long-outspoken critic of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, criticized U.S. President Donald Trump for hosting the Israeli leader at the White House: "Netanyahu has a warrant out for his arrest for committing war crimes. He should be nowhere near the Oval Office."■ Netanyahu met with Trump behind closed doors on Tuesday morning, which the White House called "positive and productive."■ Nearly half of Americans (49 percent) believe that U.S. law enforcement should arrest Netanyahu during his visit to the country, including 74 percent of Kamala Harris voters in the 2024 presidential election and 23 percent of Trump voters, according to a new survey by The Economist/YouGov.In the NewsIsrael Has Become America's Ultimate Identity TestIran Publicly Executes Two Men Accused of Killing Police During January ProtestsUN Condemns IDF Raids on UNRWA Center in East Jerusalem Refugee CampU.S.-Saudi Strikes Hit pro-Iran Groups in Iraq; Iran Fires Missiles at U.S. BaseIran to Get Chinese Shoulder-launched Missile Systems in Weeks, Sources SayRemembering and rebuilding two years laterICYMIIsrael's Far Right Is Repeating the Sin That Brought Down the TempleAl Jazeera Reportedly Ends Contracts of Over 20 Gazan JournalistsWith the West Bank Primed to Explode, Israel's Government Sees an OpportunityTwo Israelis, Four Palestinians Killed in Clash After Settlers Enter TownThese Young Israelis Are Calling for the Zionist Left to Confront the OccupationIran Strikes on CIA Facilities Prompt Questions About Possible Russian Role