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Iran live updates: Kuwait, Bahrain report Iranian attacks following latest US strikes

Two US service members were killed in recent Iranian attacks on Jordan.

ByDavid Brennan, Nadine El-Bawab, and Ivan Pereira
Last Updated: July 19, 2026, 7:13 AM 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.
12:06 AM EDT

US completes 8th night of strikes against Iran

U.S. forces completed an eighth consecutive night of strikes targeting Iran, U.S. Central Command said in a statement late Saturday.

"During the eighth consecutive night of U.S strikes, CENTCOM forces successfully hit Iranian military coastal surveillance and air defense facilities, maritime capabilities, and missile and drone storage sites to continue degrading Iranian military capabilities," CENTCOM said in the statement. "American military assets also targeted Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces that launched attacks against U.S. service members in Jordan on July 17."

Jul 18, 2026, 6:36 PM EDT

US launches airstrikes against Iran

U.S. Central Command announced Saturday evening that the military launched another round of strikes against Iran.

"The strikes are designed to further degrade Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and swiftly punish Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces who launched attacks against American service members in Jordan last night," CENTCOM said in a statement.

-ABC News' Steve Beynon

Jul 18, 2026, 5:39 PM EDT

Trump speaks out after service members' deaths

Trump reacted to the deaths of the two servicemembers who were killed in action in Jordan, telling NewsNation in a phone interview that it is "very sad, it’s a very sad thing."

"We hate to see it happen. It’s in service to our country," Trump told the station, according to a reporter.

President Donald Trump boards Marine One at the Ellipse near the White House, July 17, 2026 in Washington.
Tom Brenner/Getty Images

According to the reporter, the president then reiterated his objective of "never allowing Iran to have a nuclear weapon."

Trump was also asked to react to Iran’s comments earlier today about suspending its commitments to the MOU.

"I couldn’t care less," Trump reportedly told NewsNation.

-ABC News' Emily Chang

Jul 18, 2026, 5:08 PM EDT

UAE calls for regional de-escalation, condemns targeting of civilian facilities

The foreign ministry of the United Arab Emirates expressed "deep concern" over the regional developments in a statement on Saturday and called for "immediate de-escalation."

PHOTO: A heavily-damaged bridge which was hit by a US strike is pictured along the road connecting Roudan and Bandar Abbas in southern Iran, on July 18, 2026.
A heavily-damaged bridge which was hit by a US strike is pictured along the road connecting Roudan and Bandar Abbas in southern Iran, on July 18, 2026. The United States hit Iran on July 17, with Tehran accusing US forces of striking civilians sites and drawing Iranian threats of reprisals on regional infrastructure. A battle over the strategic Strait of Hormuz has rekindled the war in the Middle East and the foes have traded fire for six days running.
Amir Hossein Khorgooei/ISNA via AFP via Getty Images

The UAE foreign ministry added that the targeting of civilian infrastructure and civilian facilities in the region, "constitutes a flagrant and grave violation of the established principles and provisions of international law."

-ABC News' Somayeh Malekian

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