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Iran live updates: US launches airstrikes after deadly attack on troops in Jordan

Two service members were killed, and one is missing after the attack.

ByDavid Brennan, Nadine El-Bawab, and Ivan Pereira
Last Updated: July 18, 2026, 6:37 PM EDT

President Donald Trump announced "major combat operations" against Iran on Feb. 28, with massive joint U.S.-Israeli strikes targeting military, government and infrastructure sites.

Delegations from the U.S. and Iran entered negotiations in June aimed at a war-ending deal based on a memorandum of understanding signed by both countries.

The U.S. and Iran have nonetheless continued to exchange relatively limited strikes despite the signing of the memorandum and amid the continuation of peace talks, with the strategic Strait of Hormuz the primary flashpoint.

Key Headlines

Here's how the news is developing.
10:47 AM EDT

Qatar condemns Iranian attacks on Arab states

Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs is condemning Iran’s latest attacks on Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain, calling them a “flagrant violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the targeted countries.”

PHOTO: This screen grab taken from UGC video footage posted on social media on July 18, 2026, shows a plume of black smoke billowing over the town of Mangaf, south of Kuwait City.
This screen grab taken from UGC video footage posted on social media on July 18, 2026, shows a plume of black smoke billowing over the town of Mangaf, south of Kuwait City. Kuwait accused Iran on July 18 of targeting civilian sites and vital infrastructure in the country, after reporting attacks on an oil facility and a power and water plant.
UGC/UNKNOWN/AFP via Getty Images

In a statement posted on X, the ministry said targeting “electricity and water desalination plants in the State of Kuwait crosses all red lines and constitutes an egregious violation of UN Security Council Resolution 2817.”

10:20 AM EDT

Iran says its suspending MOU commitments, accuses US of violating agreement

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said on Saturday Iran has suspended its commitments to the MOU and accused the U.S. of violating the agreement reached between the two countries last month.

Iran is not implementing its commitments and is “busy defending the country," Gharibabadi said in televised comments carried on Iranian semi-official news agency Fars.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) hit surveillance sites, military logistics infrastructure, underground weapons storage, and maritime capabilities during the seventh consecutive night of strikes against Iran on July 17, 2026.
U.S. Central Command

Iran’s ambassador to Pakistan Reza Amiri Moghadam said in a social media post on Saturday that the U.S. interpreted the Memorandum of Understanding “contrary to its terms and gained control over parts of Strait Hormuz to obtain what it couldn't in the battlefield."

"It was obvious that the Iranian side would not accept this arbitrary interpretation which blatantly violated the MOU. Now, the US has started a war contrary to the terms of MOU and international principles destroying the infrastructures," Moghadam said.

8:48 AM EDT

50 killed in US strikes since July, Iran Health Ministry says

Iran’s Health Ministry said on Saturday that U.S. airstrikes in the country have killed at least 50 people and wounded more than 500 since July 6.

PHOTO: This screen grab taken from video footage broadcast by Iran's IRINN state television network shows what the network says is the aftermath of overnight US strikes on a bridge in Bandar Khamir County, near the Strait of Hormuz.
This screen grab taken from video footage broadcast by Iran's IRINN state television network and made available via AFPTV on July 17, 2026, shows what the network says is the aftermath of overnight US strikes on a bridge in Bandar Khamir County, near the Strait of Hormuz.
IRINN via AFP via Getty Images
Jul 17, 2026, 10:02 PM EDT

US completes 7th consecutive night of strikes: CENTCOM

U.S. forces completed a seventh consecutive night of strikes against Iran, U.S. Central Command announced in a social media post.

The strikes concluded at 9:30 p.m. ET after the U.S. hit surveillance sites, military logistics infrastructure, underground weapons storage and maritime capabilities, CENTCOM said in the statement.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) hit surveillance sites, military logistics infrastructure, underground weapons storage, and maritime capabilities during the seventh consecutive night of strikes against Iran on July 17, 2026.
U.S. Central Command

"CENTCOM continues to hold Iran accountable at the Commander in Chief's direction while fully enforcing a naval blockade against Iranian ports," the CENTCOM statement said. "More than 50,000 American service members are operating across the Middle East and remain vigilant, lethal, and ready."

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