Day 140 | Sixth night of US strikes as Iran vows retaliation and targets US assets

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Read more: Day 140 | US launches strikes on Iran for seventh night in a row

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it targeted what it described as US unmanned boat storage facilities in Bahrain as part of the 17th wave of its "Nasr 2" operations.

In a statement, the IRGC said the operation was carried out early Friday, claiming that a large number of unmanned boats caught fire following the attack.

The statement also claimed that a "main artificial intelligence center in Bahrain" used for targeting operations was struck with ballistic missiles and drones, resulting in its complete destruction.

The IRGC further warned that it would target what it described as US-linked industrial, technological, and shareholder companies in the region if attacks on infrastructure and transportation facilities continue.

Iranian state media reported an explosion near the city of Sirik, close to the Strait of Hormuz, following the latest round of US airstrikes.

According to the official IRNA news agency, the blast occurred at around 11:30 p.m. local time.

The United States has confirmed it launched another round of military strikes against Iran, marking the seventh consecutive night of attacks.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced the strikes in a post on X, saying the operations were conducted under the direction of the US president.

"The strikes are designed to continue degrading Iranian military capabilities at the Commander in Chief's direction," CENTCOM said.

IRGC Commander Mohsen Rezaei said Iran considers its memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the United States to be effectively dead, accusing Washington of repeatedly violating the agreement.

Speaking to Iranian state television, Rezaei claimed the US had breached the MoU by failing to ensure an Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon, supporting what he described as an illegal alternative shipping route in the Strait of Hormuz, violating Iran's sovereignty through attacks on its territory, and failing to release Iranian assets.

Rezaei said the US signed the framework agreement "with the aim of exerting maximum pressure and forcing Iran to back down."

He also claimed that after the Islamabad talks, Washington adopted a policy of "war and negotiation simultaneously," adding that Iran's acceptance of a two-week ceasefire allowed the US to complete its naval blockade while negotiations were ongoing.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the three people killed while crossing a bridge were "completely innocent," according to a statement posted on his official Telegram account.

"We will never allow their pure blood to be trampled upon," Araghchi said.

He added that Iran would continue defending its territory, saying, "We will defend every inch of this land until our last breath."

Explosions were heard in the southern Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas on the Gulf coast, according to Iranian media reports.

Kuwait's Fire Force said it had brought two fires under control after they broke out at separate sites in the south of the country following what officials described as Iranian attacks.

Fire Force spokesperson Brig. Gen. Mohammed Al-Gharib said no injuries were recorded and that the damage was limited to property.

"The two fires that broke out at separate locations in the south of the country after being targeted by the criminal Iranian aggression have been brought under control," Al-Gharib said.

The Iranian Navy attacked a vessel flying the Thai flag in the Strait of Hormuz after it allegedly attempted to transit without authorization, according to Iran's semi-official Tasnim News Agency.

Tasnim, citing an unnamed official, reported that the ship ignored warnings from the Iranian Navy before the incident.

The official claimed the vessel was attempting to pass through the strategic waterway without permission despite being warned.

US forces attacked an Iranian oil tanker docked near Kharg Island for the second time in two days, according to an Iranian official quoted by the Fars news agency.

The deputy governor of Bushehr said the empty Belma N.I.22 oil tanker, which was first hit two days earlier, was struck again on Friday by two US missiles.

"The empty, Belma N.I.22 oil tanker, which was hit two days ago, was attacked again today by two US missiles," the official told Fars.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it shot down a US RQ-11 Raven drone in the Ramshir area of Khuzestan province in southwestern Iran.

The IRGC did not provide further details about when the drone was downed or the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy said it is monitoring the movements and military equipment of US forces in the region, according to a statement carried by Iranian state television.

"The Americans are drawing closer by the moment to the zero hour of an operation by Iran’s Armed Forces against CENTCOM naval units in the region’s waters," the statement said.

The IRGC Navy added that US forces were under the surveillance of Iranian naval units but did not provide details about any planned operation.

The statement ended with the warning: "Wait and see."

The US military said it destroyed an Iranian surveillance tower that was being used to track and target commercial vessels crossing the Strait of Hormuz.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the strike was intended to disrupt the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps' ability to coordinate attacks on civilian crews.

"The destruction of the tower directly degrades [Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps'] ability to coordinate attacks on innocent civilian crew members," CENTCOM said in a statement.

The command added that the strike was aimed at protecting freedom of navigation in regional waters, excluding vessels it said were attempting to violate an ongoing US naval blockade against Iran.

The US military has denied Iranian claims that US soldiers were killed in an attack on a base in Syria, according to a post by US Central Command (CENTCOM) on X.

Iran claimed that it had killed US troops stationed at the al-Tanf base near the Syria-Jordan border.

CENTCOM rejected the claim, while Syrian authorities also said there had been no Iranian attacks on the base, adding that US forces had withdrawn from the facility in February.

US airstrikes targeting bridges in Iran's southern Hormozgan province killed at least 7 people, according to a report by the Associated Press citing Iranian state media.

The strikes were carried out overnight into Friday and hit Bandar Khamir, a coastal city located on the Strait of Hormuz, the report said.

The Thursday attacks also targeted areas around Tehran and Semnan province, which hosts Iran's ballistic missile production facilities and space program.

An Indian seafarer who went missing after an attack on his ship in the Gulf of Oman has been confirmed dead, the Forward Seamen Union of India said.

Herambh Karmarkar, 30, was serving as a third engineer aboard the MV GFS Galaxy when the vessel was struck near the Strait of Hormuz. He was reportedly on duty in the engine room when the attack occurred.

"While 10 other Indian crew members were rescued, Mr. Karmarkar, who was on duty in the engine room, went missing initially," the union said in a statement. "His death was confirmed by the ship operators to the family on 15 July 2026."

The union said the ship was attacked by Iranian Revolutionary Guard forces. Iranian authorities have not publicly commented on the incident.

Following the attack, India instructed shipowners and operators not to deploy Indian seafarers on vessels traveling through the Strait of Hormuz amid renewed regional hostilities.

India is one of the world's largest sources of maritime workers, with more than 300,000 Indian sailors employed across global shipping fleets, according to government figures.

The White House has denied that a meeting between US President Donald Trump and ‘Israeli’ Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was ever scheduled, contradicting reports that Netanyahu intended to travel to Washington for talks.

According to Axios, citing White House officials, no meeting had been arranged between the two leaders despite speculation surrounding a possible visit by Netanyahu. The report said the latest development reflects growing strains in the relationship between Trump and the ‘Israeli’ prime minister.

One White House official told Axios that Netanyahu appeared to be "trying to will a meeting into existence," suggesting that reports of a planned visit did not reflect the administration's schedule.

Another official said Trump was angered by Netanyahu's public criticism of the administration's planned sale of F-35 fighter jets to Turkey, an issue that has reportedly fueled tensions between the two leaders.

Axios reported that the episode highlights increasing frustration within the White House over Netanyahu, with disagreements between Washington and ‘Israel’ becoming more apparent in recent weeks.

Jordan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the Iranian attacks targeting Bahrain, Qatar, and Kuwait, describing them as "heinous."

In a statement, the ministry reaffirmed Jordan's solidarity with the three Gulf states and stressed its support for measures aimed at safeguarding their security, stability, and sovereignty.

The ministry also reiterated Jordan's call for de-escalation and efforts to prevent further deterioration of the regional security situation.

A Liverpool man has been charged on suspicion of spying for Iran following an investigation by UK counter-terrorism police.

Counter Terrorism Policing London said Vahid Aberi, 39, was arrested on Wednesday in the Birmingham area on suspicion of assisting a foreign intelligence service.

"The country to which the investigation relates is Iran," the force said in a statement.

Aberi was taken to a police station in the West Midlands, while officers carried out searches at addresses in Birmingham and Liverpool.

The arrest forms part of a wider UK investigation into alleged foreign intelligence activity. Authorities have not released further details about the allegations or the specific activities under investigation.

Under British law, suspects are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.