Live: Iran launches missiles and drones at U.S. Gulf bases after sixth night of American strikes; 7 dead in southern Iran

The commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards' Aerospace Force declared on Friday that Iran will not halt its regional military operations until the United States ends its bombardment of Iran's southern shores and the Strait of Hormuz. Posting on social media, Majid Mousavi stated that "Tehran and the south are one and indivisible as Iran," and warned that "effective and targeted strikes from across Iran against the enemy will continue" for as long as assaults on "the southern coastline and the Strait of Hormuz" do not cease.

Friday saw the United States and Iran launching reciprocal strikes, with Tehran hitting American targets across West Asia in the most severe escalation since both nations plunged back into open warfare. Just one month after both sides signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at ending the conflict that began in February, Iran accused U.S. forces of striking civilian and energy infrastructure on Friday — including an airport, a railway station and two bridges. Iranian state media reported that at least eight people were killed and 20 wounded in the overnight assault. The attacks appeared to signal a broadening of the American military campaign, with a new focus on Iranian infrastructure — something U.S. President Donald Trump had previously threatened. Washington, however, had yet to issue any official response.

Iran's IRGC announced that it had struck American radar systems and military aircraft stationed in Qatar in response to overnight U.S. air raids on Iran, describing the action as retaliation against the "aggressor." In a formal statement, the IRGC declared: "Continuing from last night's retaliatory operations, the brave fighters of the IRGC's Aerospace Force... carried out a powerful and surprise assault on the U.S. airbase at al-Udeid, Qatar, to punish the aggressor and the child-killing U.S. military."

A growing number of carriers have begun reinstating services to select destinations in West Asia following the conflict that erupted after American and Israeli strikes on Iran, though several airlines continue to hold their suspensions. Below is a current status rundown of key carriers' flights:

A new round of American strikes has thrust Iranians back into deep fear and uncertainty after a brief respite during a fragile ceasefire period. Iranians who spoke to Reuters via a secure encrypted messaging application said economic pressures were intensifying and they were consumed by worry about what comes next. Somayeh, a 40-year-old photographer based in Tehran, shared a photograph of her weekly grocery shopping, saying prices had nearly doubled compared to before the war. "The most important thing overall in the middle of the war is the economy. Everyday our situation is worse and more difficult," she said. Amir, a 30-year-old software engineer from Sanandaj in the western Kurdistan province, said he had been struggling to provide for his family and find employment since Iranian authorities cut internet access during protests against the government in January. "Within a month or so when the internet was reconnected, the war began. The internet was cut off again, businesses were again severely impacted, there was a lot of trouble in my industry," he said, adding that he was buried in crippling debt with no clear path forward.

Kuwait's Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy stated that an Iranian strike hit one of the country's power generation and water desalination facilities, causing structural damage, igniting a fire and knocking out a large number of electricity generation units.

On Friday, the Revolutionary Guards of Iran announced that they launched drone and ballistic missile attacks against American military aircraft located in Jordan, calling it a retaliatory action for US strikes the night before. In their official statement, the force asserted that they successfully destroyed multiple US fighter planes and aerial refueling tankers, while inflicting severe damage on numerous others. Furthermore, they urged the citizens of Jordan to attack American interests, describing them as aggressive and anti-Islamic forces operating in their nation.

A representative from an Iranian Kurdish dissident organization stated that a suspected Iranian assault in northern Iraq on Friday (July 17, 2026) claimed the lives of at least nine individuals. An official belonging to the Komala group, who requested anonymity for safety reasons, revealed that several other people sustained injuries during the raid. According to the official, Tehran is thought to have orchestrated the offensive using a combination of drones and missiles to hit the group's base in Zargwezala, situated near Sulaymaniyah within Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan territory. While Iran did not straight away declare its involvement in the incident, it has historically launched numerous operations against Kurdish dissident factions inside Iraq.

An exiled political organization stated that military strikes on Friday (July 17, 2026) in the Kurdistan province of Iraq resulted in the deaths of eight members of an armed Iranian Kurdish opposition faction, pointing the finger at Tehran. Speaking to AFP, Idriss Kohlwazi of the Komala party explained that "the Iranian regime targeted a camp" and nearby areas associated with their group close to Sulaimaniyah during the early hours, utilizing unmanned aircraft and missiles. He further noted that the assault led to the "martyrdom of eight of our members and wounding others." This surge in violence in Iraq occurs amid fresh military friction between Washington and Tehran, both of whom are key allies of Baghdad.

Qatari authorities reported on Friday (July 17, 2026) that their military successfully blocked an incoming missile strike, though falling shrapnel caused injuries to a child. On the social media platform X, the Ministry of Defence confirmed that Qatari armed forces stopped an aerial missile threat aimed at the country. Subsequently, the Interior Ministry stated that a child suffered injuries from the descending debris following the successful interception. Tehran has conducted strikes against multiple Gulf nations since conflicts with Washington reignited on July 7, asserting that its operations are directed towards US military bases.

According to Iran's state press on Friday (July 17, 2026), eight individuals lost their lives and another 20 were hurt following overnight air raids by the US targeting infrastructure in western and southern parts of the country. The official IRNA news agency detailed that "infrastructure facilities in various provinces across the nation were hit by US military strikes," highlighting that six bridges located in the southern Hormozgan province were among the targets.

Shipping statistics show that only three cargo ships traveled through the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday (July 16, 2026), marking the lowest daily count since May. This drop comes as most operators halted journeys or turned back due to recent Iranian strikes on ships and the enforcement of a renewed US blockade on cargo connected to Iran. The intensifying conflict between Washington and Tehran has effectively paralyzed movement across the Hormuz passage—the globe's premier shipping channel for petroleum and natural gas—subsequently pushing up international energy costs. According to Kpler tracking information from 05:13 GMT on Friday (July 17, 2026), the sanctioned fuel oil tanker Miraan and the smaller LPG carrier Norita sailed out of the strait on Thursday (July 16, 2026) using Iranian lanes, but then paused in the Gulf of Oman where the US blockade operates. Furthermore, LSEG records indicated that the Arolia, a refueling vessel loaded with Iraqi fuel oil, turned around to re-enter the Gulf on Friday (July 17, 2026), just hours after it had initially departed.

The Iranian Ministry of Health announced on Friday (July 17, 2026) that the death toll inside the country has reached at least 38, with over 400 individuals wounded since hostilities with the US flared up again. Writing on X, ministry representative Hossein Kermanpour stated that since June 22, more than 400 citizens have been injured and 38 compatriots have lost their lives due to American attacks. He specified that the victims include 22 injured women, three women who were killed, nine minors who suffered injuries, and one individual under 18 who was killed.

Military forces from the US-led alliance neutralized multiple unmanned aerial vehicles on Friday (July 17, 2026) in the skies above Erbil, the administrative center of Iraq's northern Kurdistan province, Kurdish authorities reported. This marks the second time this week that such an interception has occurred over the city. According to Kurdish counterterrorism units, coalition troops intercepted and destroyed eight explosive-carrying drones over Erbil between 04:19 and 05:25 AM local time (0119 and 0225 GMT), with no reports of injuries or structural damage.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency stated on Friday (July 17, 2026) that a commercial tanker was struck by an unidentified projectile on Thursday (July 16, 2026) during its passage approximately 19 nautical miles (35 km) east of Khasab, Oman. According to the agency's report, all crew members are unharmed, and no ecological damage has been observed in the area.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul suggested that a European Union-authorized security force could step in to replace the concluding UN peacekeepers in Lebanon, thereby avoiding a potential security gap. In an interview made public on Friday (July 17, 2026), Wadephul urged the EU to explore whether a European-led mandate could succeed the UNIFIL operation to prevent instability. The current UNIFIL mandate is scheduled to wind down on December 31, 2026. Just a few weeks prior, the German legislature approved what it designated as the final extension of its military involvement in the UN mission. Highlighting Lebanon's progress, Wadephul characterized its stabilizing administration as "one of the most promising regional developments currently." He explained that an EU-mandated force could establish the necessary environment for the exit of Israeli troops while preventing Hezbollah from re-establishing its militant network.

The Revolutionary Guards of Iran declared on Friday (July 17, 2026) that they carried out successful military strikes against two US radar installations located within the Sultanate of Oman. According to their official statement, Iranian forces hit and demolished a maritime tracking radar at Salamah Rocks, alongside an American aerial surveillance radar positioned in the Ghanam region.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held talks in Shanghai on Friday, July 17, 2026, and together pressed the United States and Iran to stop the fighting and re-engage through diplomacy, according to an official statement issued by Beijing. China's foreign ministry said that Wang Yi and Ishaq Dar jointly expressed deep alarm over the rapid worsening of the current situation, urging all parties involved to immediately lay down arms and come back to the dialogue table. — AFP

Jordan's armed forces announced on Friday, July 17, 2026, that they had brought down three Iranian missiles without any loss of life or damage on the ground, as the conflict engulfing West Asia showed signs of further expansion. The military statement said that early on Friday morning, air defence systems intercepted three Iranian missiles after they crossed into Jordanian airspace and were bearing down on targets inside the kingdom, and all three were successfully destroyed. — AFP

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps declared on Friday, July 17, that its troops had struck the Al-Tanf military installation in Syria. Iran's state broadcaster announced on Telegram that the IRGC had launched a surprise assault on what it called the enemy's Special Operations Command Center in Syria's Al-Tanf zone, describing the attack as retribution for the loss of Iranian service members in Iranshahr. — AFP

Tasnim news agency reported that Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed to have struck a U.S. special operations command post at Al-Tanf in Syria, saying the action was carried out in response to Iranian soldiers losing their lives in Iranshahr. Reuters was unable to independently confirm the claim. The Guards further declared that Iran holds complete authority over the Strait of Hormuz, and warned that the passage would remain off-limits to oil and gas shipments so long as American military operations continue. — Reuters

American airstrikes on Friday, July 17, appear to have felled a tower at Iran's Chabahar port, which lies along the Gulf of Oman and serves as a vital trade route for Afghanistan. U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth shared an image that appeared to show the surveillance tower in the process of collapse — though that same image had already been circulating on social media, distributed by activists, before Hegseth posted it. Chabahar port has come under American attack on multiple occasions. Iranian state media confirmed a third wave of strikes on the facility but made no mention of the tower's fate. Tehran described the structure as one that monitored cargo vessels entering the port. It bears noting, however, that Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard also maintains operations at ports throughout the country. — AP

Seven people lost their lives after U.S. forces struck bridges in Bandar Khamir, a port city on Iran's southern coast, according to IRNA, which cited the Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences as its source. — Reuters

Tehran carried out missile and drone strikes against American military installations in several neighboring countries, among them an air base inside Jordan. In the predawn hours of Friday, July 17, Iran's military claimed to have struck U.S. installations in both Bahrain and Kuwait. A witness described hearing multiple loud blasts in Doha, Qatar's capital, while Qatar's Ministry of the Interior said a child sustained shrapnel injuries. Iranian media reported that five bridges were struck in the most recent American bombardment, along with the railway station in the coastal town of Bandar Khamir and Iranshahr Airport in Iran's southeastern region. Seven people lost their lives when American forces hit bridges in Bandar Khamir, a port city on Iran's southern coast, state news agency IRNA reported. — Reuters

On Friday, July 17, Iran announced it had conducted new attacks on American military facilities throughout the Gulf, coming after a sixth uninterrupted night of U.S. airstrikes against Iranian military targets. The truce brokered the previous month has since completely unraveled, with both sides now exchanging blows on a daily basis. The U.S. military said it had wrapped up yet another overnight strike campaign against Iran, with the stated objective being 'to further degrade Iranian military capabilities.' Targets in this latest round included Qeshm Island and areas near Bandar Abbas — the city that houses Iran's largest port alongside critical navy and Revolutionary Guards installations. — Reuters