Iran says overnight US attack near Ahvaz killed at least four people

Update

Iranian state media said the attack happened overnight in Khuzestan province.

Valiollah Hayati, deputy governor of Khuzestan, said areas around Ahvaz were hit by missiles.

Hayati said five people were injured in addition to at least four people killed.

The report was attributed to Iran's official IRNA news agency.

Source note: AFP news report published on 24 July 2026 at 05:29:59 UTC.

Update

Iran said US strikes in the southwest killed at least four people.

Source note: AFP news report published on 24 July 2026 at 05:21:31 UTC.

Update

Iran said President Donald Trump's threat to use frozen Iranian assets to pay for shipping damage was an "incendiary precedent".

The US military said it was attacking Iran for a 13th consecutive night and that the strikes were aimed at military targets.

Kuwait said its air defences were intercepting incoming Iranian missiles and drones after an earlier drone attack at a border crossing with Iraq.

The US House of Representatives passed a largely symbolic resolution calling for Trump to halt military action against Iran unless Congress authorises it.

European officials condemned Houthi attacks on oil tankers in the Red Sea.

Source note: AFP news report published on 24 July 2026 at 04:19:07 UTC.

Update

Houthi rebels attacked oil tankers in the Red Sea, opening a new front in the conflict.

Brent crude rose past $100 a barrel on Thursday for the first time since May, up eight percent, and remained just above $100 on Friday morning.

President Donald Trump said frozen Iranian assets would be used to pay for damage to shipping, while Tehran warned that would set an incendiary precedent.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned the situation was getting out of control and urged against further escalation.

ECB President Christine Lagarde warned that an energy shock could intensify and push up inflation, increasing speculation about a September eurozone interest rate rise.

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius warned of dire consequences for oil-importing economies and said there was no sign of a ceasefire or peace.

The Houthis said they attacked two Saudi tankers, the Encelia and the Layla, in the Red Sea; Riyadh confirmed a vessel had been hit.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the Houthis had been drawn into attacking Red Sea shipping by Iran.

Oman said it was working to resume talks between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia.

Source note: AFP news report published on 24 July 2026 at 04:05:57 UTC.

Update

The US military said it was attacking Iran for a 13th consecutive night.

Iranian state media reported US missile strikes or explosions in Ahvaz, Bandar Abbas, Omidiyeh and near Suza on Qeshm Island.

President Donald Trump said the United States would use frozen Iranian assets under US control to pay for shipping-related damage in the region.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that the Middle East conflict was getting out of control.

Brent crude rose above $100 a barrel and West Texas Intermediate rose to $93.44 a barrel after Houthi attacks on oil tankers.

Trump threatened Yemen's Houthis and Iran with major military punishment if the rebels launched further attacks.

Source note: AFP news report published on 24 July 2026 at 00:36:06 UTC.

Update

Kuwaiti air defences opened fire on incoming Iranian missiles and drones after Kuwait reported a new drone attack at a border crossing with Iraq.

The US House of Representatives passed a symbolic resolution calling for Trump to halt military action against Iran unless Congress authorises it.

Germany, Britain and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas condemned Houthi attacks on oil tankers in the Red Sea.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said the Middle East conflict was getting out of control and teetering on the edge of the unimaginable.

Brent North Sea crude rose more than eight percent to $101.93 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate rose 7.6 percent to $93.44.

Iranian outlet Tasnim reported that a US missile hit a site near Suza on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz.

Britain said it had temporarily withdrawn remaining diplomatic staff from Iran and that its embassy was operating remotely.

Air sirens were triggered in Bahrain, Jordan said it shot down three Iranian missiles, and Iran's military said it had targeted US assets in Bahrain, Jordan and Kuwait.

Source note: AFP news report published on 23 July 2026 at 19:59:03 UTC.

Update

The defence ministry said the move would happen in the coming days.

A ministry spokesman confirmed the Fulda and Mosel were in Djibouti.

The ministry cited the volatile political situation and no foreseeable near-term start of operations in the Strait of Hormuz.

The ministry said keeping the vessels deployed indefinitely in the region was straining their technical systems.

The ministry said the vessels would remain ready for deployment and return to the Middle East once there were reliable signs of an imminent mission start.

The source says Iranian-backed Houthis struck Saudi shipping in the Red Sea on Thursday.

Source note: AFP news report published on 23 July 2026 at 16:20:00 UTC.

Update

The vessels are the Fulda minesweeper and the Mosel supply ship.

Germany's defence ministry said they will be moved to the Mediterranean in the coming days.

The ministry said the vessels had been sent to Djibouti for a possible Strait of Hormuz mission after the end of the US-Iran war.

The ministry said the move was due in part to the volatile political situation in the area.

Source note: AFP news report published on 23 July 2026 at 16:06:56 UTC.

Update

Germany's defence ministry said the German military will withdraw two vessels from the Red Sea.

Source note: AFP news report published on 23 July 2026 at 15:57:56 UTC.

Update

Germany's defence minister said Houthi attacks on Saudi oil tankers raised concerns that escalation could be imminent.

Brent North Sea crude rose more than six percent to $100 a barrel and West Texas Intermediate rose five percent to $91.19.

The International Energy Agency said coal-fired power generation is set to rise by 1.4 percent in 2026 because of supply difficulties and high natural gas prices linked to the war.

Trump threatened major military punishment against Iran and the Houthis if the rebels launch further attacks.

Kuwait said drones hit its side of the border with Iraq, causing material damage but no casualties.

The EU's foreign policy chief called the Red Sea tanker attack unacceptable and illegal and demanded that the Houthis stop attacks on ships.

Britain temporarily withdrew its remaining diplomatic staff from Iran and said its embassy was operating remotely.

Bahrain's interior ministry said air sirens had been triggered, and the Iranian military confirmed targeting US assets in Bahrain, Jordan and Kuwait.

Jordan said it shot down three Iranian missiles, while Kuwait said it was intercepting hostile drone threats.

Source note: AFP news report published on 23 July 2026 at 14:08:36 UTC.

Update

Boris Pistorius said the Middle East situation was clearly moving in the wrong direction.

Pistorius said nothing currently suggested a ceasefire or peace could be reached in the region.

Reports of fresh tanker attacks sent oil prices climbing on Thursday.

The European Union's top diplomat condemned the attacks earlier on Thursday.

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde called the latest developments alarming and warned of continued economic fallout.

Source note: AFP news report published on 23 July 2026 at 14:01:14 UTC.

Update

The minister was German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius.

The concern was linked to attacks on oil tankers in the Red Sea by Yemen's Houthi militants.

Pistorius specifically mentioned the Houthis and Saudi Arabian tankers.

He said the situation has dire consequences for people in the region and for global energy supplies.

Source note: AFP news report published on 23 July 2026 at 13:40:02 UTC.

Update

A German minister said Germany was very worried about possible escalation in the Middle East.

Source note: AFP news report published on 23 July 2026 at 13:27:58 UTC.

Update

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi criticised what he called the United States' irrational, excessive and domineering approach.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas condemned a Houthi attack on an oil tanker in the Red Sea and demanded that the Houthis stop attacks on shipping.

Britain said it had temporarily withdrawn its remaining diplomatic staff from Iran and that its embassy was operating remotely.

Brent crude reached $98.80 a barrel and West Texas Intermediate reached $90.11 after Houthi rebels said they had struck two Saudi oil tankers.

Jordan and Kuwait reported intercepting Iranian missiles or drones.

Oman said it was working with Saudi Arabia, Yemeni parties and the UN envoy for Yemen to resume a political process.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the Houthis had been tricked by Iran into attacking Red Sea shipping.

Iranian forces claimed attacks on US military assets in Jordan and several US bases in Kuwait.

Source note: AFP news report published on 23 July 2026 at 12:22:55 UTC.

Update

Bahrain's interior ministry said sirens had sounded and urged people to go to safe places.

Jordan's army said it shot down three Iranian missiles on Thursday morning and that a fourth fell in an uninhabited area.

Kuwait's military said it was intercepting hostile drone threats overnight.

Oman said it was working with Saudi Arabia, Yemeni parties and the UN Special Envoy for Yemen to resume the political process after a Saudi ship was hit in the Red Sea.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Yemen's Houthis had been drawn into attacking Red Sea shipping by Iran.

Source note: AFP news report published on 23 July 2026 at 09:37:55 UTC.