Iran warns of response after Israeli strikes kill 4 in Lebanon
Iran warned Israel of a "harsh response" on Wednesday after accusing it of violating the Lebanon ceasefire 84 times since a US-Iran memorandum aimed at ending the illegal US-Israeli war against Iran was agreed. The warning came after Israeli strikes killed four people in southern…
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US President Donald Trump stated on July 13 and July 22 that the United States was considering strikes on an Iranian underground facility referred to as Pickaxe Mountain. These remarks were made during an ongoing US-Iran conflict that began February 28, involving reported US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites and Iranian actions in the Strait of Hormuz.
Some details, including specific targets and outcomes, remain unverified.
Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters stated that any US strike on Iranian nuclear facilities would be treated as an escalation, resulting in attacks on US and allied interests across the region. The statement references a June 18 memorandum of understanding that ended an earlier conflict and notes subsequent US strikes beginning July 8, which the US Central Command attributed to Iranian interference with shipping in the Strait of Hormuz while Iran described them as violations prompting its own responses.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency has advised air operators to avoid Gulf airspace until at least July 29, 2026. Travelers were directed to consult insurance providers on policy conditions, including potential exclusions tied to government advisories or conflict, and to confirm flight status with operators.
Reports cited US strikes in multiple Iranian locations including Bushehr, Bandar Abbas, Chabahar, Konarak, Kurdistan, Sirik, Tabriz, and Hamadan, while an advisory stated that Iran had targeted US interests and issued warnings regarding civilian infrastructure such as airports and desalination facilities.
Yemen’s Houthis announced this week that they would restrict Saudi-linked vessels from transiting the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, citing an attack on Sanaa International Airport the previous week that they attributed to Riyadh. Several tankers carrying Saudi crude reportedly reversed course after the announcement, though a US Navy-led maritime center stated there had been no confirmed attacks on vessels in the Red Sea in the preceding 48 hours.
The development has prompted concerns over potential effects on shipping through the strait.