Day 143 | US troops killed in Iraq as Iran says US hits nuclear plant

Several explosions were reported near Sirik in Iran’s eastern Hormozgan province, according to Iran’s Fars news agency.

1. The report said the exact location and nature of the explosions remain unknown.

Air France has suspended flights to Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh until July 24 and to Dubai until July 27 due to the security situation in the region.

Flights to Beirut, Lebanon, will remain suspended until August 2, according to a statement published on the airline’s website.

"Due to the security situation in the region and restrictions that may affect certain airspaces," the carrier said, explaining the decision.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it shot down a US cruise missile over the city of Rudbar in Kerman province, southeastern Iran.

In a statement, the IRGC said the missile was intercepted during the night and that it was a US-made cruise missile.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claims it launched missiles targeting US positions as regional tensions continue to escalate.

Hundreds of Iranians gathered along the coastline near the Strait of Hormuz, forming a human chain in a public display of unity as regional tensions continue to rise.

Jordan's Armed Forces said air defense systems intercepted and downed three missiles launched from Iranian territory after they entered Jordanian airspace and targeted Jordanian territory.

A military source said the interception operation caused no casualties or material damage. Royal Engineering Corps teams were deployed to locations where missile fragments fell and secured the areas in line with technical and security procedures.

The source reaffirmed that the Jordan Armed Forces - Arab Army continues to monitor the country's airspace and maintain operational readiness, stressing that it will respond to any threat affecting Jordan's security, sovereignty, and the safety of its citizens.

Authorities urged the public to rely on official sources for information and avoid spreading unverified reports.

All-clear sirens sounded across Jordan, signaling the end of the alert issued earlier over potential aerial threats.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said two vessels were struck by projectiles off the coasts of Oman and the United Arab Emirates on Sunday.

The incident near the UAE occurred around 6:30 p.m. ET, with the vessel's master reporting that an unknown projectile hit the ship and damaged its steering system.

"All the crew are reported as safe. There is no environmental impact. Authorities are investigating," UKMTO said.

Separately, UKMTO reclassified a Sunday incident involving another vessel off the coast of Oman as an "attack." The ship was left adrift and on fire after being struck by an unknown projectile.

The crew safely abandoned the vessel and were recovered by a tugboat, according to UKMTO. The fire had not been extinguished, but no environmental impact was reported.

UKMTO monitors maritime activity across the Persian Gulf, northern Indian Ocean, and Red Sea. The agency has reported increased emergency calls from vessels since shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz began amid the war with Iran.

Air raid sirens sounded across parts of Jordan after authorities detected aerial threats entering the region. Residents were urged to follow official instructions and remain alert as security agencies monitored the situation.

US President Donald Trump will attend the dignified transfer of US service members killed in the war with Iran, the White House announced on Monday.

“President Trump will attend the dignified transfer of our fallen heroes tomorrow evening at Dover Air Force Base. The President and the entire White House are praying for their families,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt wrote in a post on X.

The announcement comes after Trump earlier Monday vowed retaliation against Iran following the deaths of US troops over the weekend.

US President Donald Trump said 'Israeli' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "will not be arrested, in any way, shape, or form" while in the United States.

Trump made the remarks in a social media post after New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he was consulting with city authorities over the possibility of arresting Netanyahu if he visits New York for the United Nations General Assembly in September.

The United States’ dwindling missile stockpiles could severely constrain any escalation into a full-scale conflict with Iran, according to a senior US official cited by The Washington Post.

The danger to Washington comes as President Donald Trump weighs broader military options and deploys additional warplanes to the Middle East.

According to a report, the US does not have enough missiles to safely sustain prolonged operations against Tehran.

“We do not have enough to safely sustain operations, and I don’t think the White House is aware of that,” the official familiar with administration discussions told The Washington Post.

This concern stems from the heavy expenditure of advanced munitions during earlier phases of the conflict which began on February 28.

Analyses by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) indicate that the US expended significant portions of its inventories of THAAD and Patriot interceptors, Tomahawk cruise missiles, and large numbers of other precision munitions.

Replenishment remains a major challenge. CSIS estimates suggest it could take three or more years to restore pre-war levels for key systems, with Tomahawk stocks potentially not fully rebuilt until 2030 or later due to limited production rates.

Experts note that current delivery schedules provide only about 15 new Tomahawks and 20 Patriots per month, with no THAAD deliveries forecast for 2026.

In a social media post, Trump says “every time Iran kills an American Soldier they will pay for that killing many times over”.

“This directive has been passed on to Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Daniel Caine, and every Leader in the Military,” he added.

Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni has arrived in Pakistan to hold talks with Pakistani officials, Iran's state news agency reported.

According to Iran's Fars news agency, Momeni is leading a delegation to Islamabad at the invitation of his Pakistani counterpart Mohsin Naqvi to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation.

The US military said it has redirected seven commercial vessels and disabled one ship as part of its ongoing blockade of Iranian ports.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a post on X that, as of July 20, US forces had taken action to prevent the vessels from entering or leaving Iranian ports.

France's Foreign Ministry said two employees of its embassy in Tehran were detained for several hours and subjected to intimidation by Iranian security forces.

French Foreign Minister said the treatment of embassy staff by Iranian authorities was "unacceptable" and warned that the incident "will not go without consequences."

An attack on the Iranian city of Shiraz was reported by the deputy governor of Fars province, according to Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB.

The official said the United States carried out an aerial attack on an area in Shiraz, adding that the strike caused no casualties and that the situation was under control.

Warning sirens have sounded again across Bahrain, with the Interior Ministry urging citizens and residents to remain calm and move to the nearest safe location.

"The siren has been sounded. Citizens and residents are urged to remain calm and head to the nearest safe place," the ministry said in a statement.

Explosions have been heard in Shiraz, southwestern Iran, in the last few minutes, according to the Fars news agency.

A fire broke out on a cargo ship after it was hit by unknown projectiles while sailing off the coast of Oman near the Strait of Hormuz, Reuters reported.

Greek shipping company Dynacom Tankers said two vessels it operates were struck by unidentified projectiles on Monday. The Malta-flagged tanker Kavomalias was hit by two projectiles, causing a fire in the engine room and forcing the crew to evacuate.

The company said the captain decided to abandon the vessel after the onboard firefighting system was activated.

Dynacom added that Omani authorities located all crew members and safely transferred them ashore, saying it remains in contact with relevant authorities in the region.

UK-based maritime security company Vanguard said the incident occurred about 8 nautical miles northwest of Khasab, Oman.