https://p.dw.com/p/5Huy1
Skip next section What you need to know
What you need to know
- US military says Iranian ballistic missiles intercepted
- The confrontation comes after a days-long lull in fighting
- US, Saudi Arabia announce striking Iranian-backed militias in Iraq
- Netanyahu hails his White House meeting with Trump despite tensions
Read below for the latest developments concerning the Iran war and the wider Middle East on Wednesday, July 29, 2026:
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Skip next section US unveils fresh sanctions targeting IranJuly 29, 2026
US unveils fresh sanctions targeting Iran
The US Treasury announced new sanctions aimed at countering what it described as Iran’s attempts to generate revenue from disruptions in theStrait of Hormuz
According to the Treasury Department, the measures block any assets held by designated individuals and entities in the United States and prohibit US persons from engaging in most transactions with them.
The sanctions also apply to companies that are owned, directly or indirectly, by sanctioned individuals
Washington warned that both US and foreign parties could face penalties for violating sanctions or helping others evade them
The Treasury said the objective of the sanctions is to change behavior rather than punish, adding that designated individuals and entities can petition to be removed from the sanctions list
https://p.dw.com/p/5Hy5F
Skip next section Iraq condemns US-Saudi strikes, holds emergency security meetingJuly 29, 2026
Iraq condemns US-Saudi strikes, holds emergency security meeting
Iraq’s National Security Council held an emergency meeting on Wednesday after US and Saudi airstrikes hit targets in the country, killing and injuring several people
The council condemned the attacks, saying they violated Iraq’s sovereignty and came while the government was still discussing security concerns raised by Washington and Riyadh, an Iraqi military spokesperson in a post on the prime minister’s X account.
Prime Minister Ali Falih al-Zaidi chaired the meeting and ordered a new security plan aimed at preventing violations of Iraqi territory and stopping attacks on neighboring countries from Iraqi soil
The council also instructed the Foreign Ministry to document the incident and pursue Iraq’s rights under international law
Officials reiterated the government’s commitment to keeping Iraq out of regional conflicts, maintaining stability, and continuing plans to bring all weapons under state control
https://p.dw.com/p/5HxyK
Skip next section Israel says Iran-backed Hezbollah launched drone at military vehicleJuly 29, 2026
Israel says Iran-backed Hezbollah launched drone at military vehicle
The Israeli military accused Iran-backed Hezbollah militants of launching a drone attack Wednesday on an Israeli military vehicle in what Israel calls its security zone in southern Lebanon
“Overnight, Hezbollah launched an explosive drone toward an IDF engineering vehicle in the area of Ali al-Taher Ridge within the Security Zone,” the military said in a statement, describing the incident as a “blatant violation of the ceasefire.”
The Israeli military said no soldiers were injured and added that its forces would continue operating in the area to prevent attacks and stop militants from advancing toward Israeli military positions
Last month, Lebanon’s army signed an agreement with the United States aimed at disarming Hezbollah. Under the deal, Israeli forces are also expected to withdraw from designated “pilot zones,” control of which would be taken over by the Lebanese army
The agreement came more than three months after Hezbollah reentered the wider Middle East conflict by launching rockets at Israel in support of Iran on March 2. Israel responded with major airstrikes and a ground offensive in Lebanon
Violence has eased since the signing of a now largely collapsed preliminary US-Iran agreement and the Lebanon-Israel deal last month. However, Lebanon continues to report occasional Israeli airstrikes and artillery fire in the south
On Sunday, Lebanon’s army accused Israel of impeding its full deployment under the agreement.
What does the Lebanon-Israel agreement mean and will it weaken Hezbollah, DW has more.
Could US-backed Israel-Lebanon deal lead to civil war?
https://p.dw.com/p/5HxhY
Skip next section Yemen alleges Iran role in Houthi Red Sea toll schemeJuly 29, 2026
Yemen alleges Iran role in Houthi Red Sea toll scheme
Yemen’s government has accused Houthi rebels of working with Iran’s military to impose fees on ships transiting the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a key route for Saudi oil exports to global markets
Yemeni Information Minister Moammar al-Eryani told the AFP news agency that the move was “a dangerous escalation aimed at transforming one of the world’s most strategic maritime corridors into a permanentes.”
Eryani said the Yemeni government had recently obtained what it called “confirmed intelligence” indicating that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) was behind the plan
“The intelligence indicates that IRGC experts and advisers are directly involved in designing the technical and administrative framework of the project,” he told AFP
He added that the plan includes “the establishment of a dedicated entity responsible for collecting payments from shipping companies and commercial vessels.”
Last week, the Houthis announced a maritime blockade of Saudi Arabia and have since claimed attacks on Saudi tankers and oil infrastructure
Houthis claim attacks on Saudi tankers in Red Sea
https://p.dw.com/p/5HxVI
Skip next section India condemns attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz at UNSCJuly 29, 2026
India condemns attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz at UNSC
India strongly condemned the recent attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
Addressing a UN Security Council during an open debate on the Middle East, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, said the resurgence of hostilities after a brief lull was “worrying.” He called for a return to dialogue and diplomacy
India also urged for restoration of unimpeded navigation and trade through international waterways in the region
Harish said the Middle East region is of “immense importance” to India.
The UN ambassador noted that the violence directly affected Indians, following the news that merchant vessels, including GFS Galaxy, MT Al Bahiyah and MT Mombasa were attacked in the Strait of Hormuz
“Several Indian citizens were injured, including some seriously, one Indian tragically lost his life, and one is missing, in these attacks,” he said
https://p.dw.com/p/5Hwt9
Skip next section China turns to Houthis to secure oil shipmentsJuly 29, 2026
China turns to Houthis to secure oil shipments
Beijing has asked Yemen’s Houthis to allow its tankers safe passage through the southern Red Sea, a senior Iranian official told Reuters
China was among the first countries to approach the Iran-backed Houthis about transits through the Bab el-Mandeb, the Iranian military official added
Beijing is seeking to keep Saudi oil flowing to Chinasrupted by Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz
China’s Foreign Ministry said it is closely monitoring developments and called for respect for regional sovereignty and the free flow of international shipping
At least four Saudi oil tankers bound for China have transited the Bab el-Mandeb since the Houthis announced restrictions, according to shipping data
l movements with the Houthis, while some tankers have altered course due to security concerns
The Houthis declared a blockade on shipments passing through the Bab el-Mandeb on July 20 and said they would attack tankers carrying energy and other supplies to markets beyond the Middle East
China, particularly regarding oil shipments from Saudi Arabia to China
https://p.dw.com/p/5Hwah
Skip next section Jordan intercepts five missiles launched from IranJuly 29, 2026
Jordan intercepts five missiles launched from Iran
Jordan intercepted five Iranian missiles on Wednesday, according to a statement from the Jordanian military.
A military spokesperson said air defence systems “intercepted and downed” the missiles from Iran, adding that they were launched from Iran and were headed towards Jordanian territory.
“As long as the threats against the Islamic Republic of Iran continue, the resistance will continue,” the IRGCsaid in a statement
The attack marked Iran’s first strike in the region in several days, following a brief pause in the US-Iran conflict
https://p.dw.com/p/5HwQZ
Skip next section Iraq holds emergency meeting after US-Saudi strikesJuly 29, 2026
Iraq holds emergency meeting after US-Saudi strikes
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi called an emergency meeting of Iraq’s National Security Council on Wednesday following overnight strikes launched by US and Saudi forces
The bombing killed at least 20 members of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) in Iraq, an umbrella group that includes several Iran-backed militias, on Wednesday
The PMF said the strikes hit bases in seven provinces, including Baghdad, Basra and Nineveh. It said another 32 fighters were wounded, describing the attacks as a “dangerous escalation.”
Meanwhile, the United States and Saudi Arabia said the strikes were a response to attacks by Iran-backed groups. The US military said more than 30 drone attacks targeting US interests had taken place in the past 72 hours. Saudi Arabia said some of the targeted sites had been used to launch attacks on its oil facilities
The PMF was formed in 2014 to fight Islamic State and was later incorporated into Iraq’s armed forces. However, some of its factions remain closely aligned with Iran. Several belong to the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a coalition that has claimed attacks on US military bases in the region
Iraqi Prime Minister Zaidi, who took office in May, has pledged to bring armed groups under state control and disarm militias. But powerful Iran-backed factions continue to wield significant influence in Iraq
https://p.dw.com/p/5HvlT
Skip next section Reuters: Iran rejects Oman’s plan to jointly manage Strait of HormuzPublished July 29, 2026last updated July 29, 2026
Reuters: Iran rejects Oman’s plan to jointly manage Strait of Hormuz
Tehran has dismissed a regional deal floated by Oman on the Strait of Hormuz, which would see the two countries jointly manage the strategic waterway, according to a
Talking to Reuters, a senior official accused the US and Saudi Arabia of pushing Oman to advance their “unrealistic plans” for the Strait of Hormuz. While Iran sees Oman as a valuable neighbor, a 50-50 control arrangement would not serve Tehran’s interests
Oman controls the southern side of the Strait of Hormuz at its narrowest point and says it should oversee the waters under its jurisdiction
The narrow waterway that links the Gulf and Indian Ocean that carried about 20% of global oil suppliesbefore the wartime disruption started in February. It remains a key issue in efforts to end the US-Iran war
https://p.dw.com/p/5HvN2
Skip next section Venezuela protests after Araghchi’s remarksJuly 29, 2026
Venezuela protests after Araghchi’s remarks
Venezuela has summoned Iran’s ambassador in Caracas to protest what it described as “disparaging and inappropriate” remarks about the country’s institutions and authorities
The Foreign Ministry said Ambassador Ali Chegini was handed a formal note of protest on Tuesday. While Venezuelan diplomats did not specify what prompted the move, the complaint appears to relate to recent remarks by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi about negotiations with the United States
“This is not Venezuela, where they take one person and everyone else gets scared and backs down,” Araghchi said, apparently referring to the US capture of former Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and the subsequent shift in relations between Caracas and Washington
Venezuela demanded “an end to any reference or comparison that undermines the dignity, sovereignty, institutions or reputation of Venezuela,” the ministry said on Telegram
Venezuelans want elections — but when will they get them?
Relations between Tehran and Caracas have been particularly close since the presidency of the late Hugo Chavez, with both governments united by their opposition to the United States
Iran was one of the main allies of Nicolas Maduro’s government, particularly during Venezuela’s fuel shortages in 2020, when Caracas turned to Tehran for petrol
Maduro is now being held in New York after his capture in Caracas on January 3. Under acting President Delcy Rodriguez, Venezuela and the US have restored diplomatic ties and continued to move closer in recent months
https://p.dw.com/p/5HvAn
Skip next section US, Saudi forces hit Iran-aligned targets in IraqJuly 29, 2026
US, Saudi forces hit Iran-aligned targets in Iraq
The US military says it has carried out precision strikes with Saudi forces against Iran-aligned militants in eastern Iraq
US and Saudi fighter jets hit several weapons storage and logistics sites, US Central Command, or CENTCOM, said on X
CENTCOM said the operation followed more than 30 drone attacks over the previous 72 hours. The US military accused Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of directing the strikes against US troops and Saudi energy infrastructure
CENTCOM said the attacks on American forces failed
Earlier, CENTCOM said it had thwarted an attempted Iranian “surprise attack” involving several ballistic missiles fired at US forces in the Middle East
All the missiles were intercepted, the US military said. While CENTCOM did not identify their intended target, US news outlet Axios reported that they were heading towards a US military base in Jordan
The attack came despitePresident Donald Trump’s announcement that US strikes on Iran had been paused to give negotiations more time
https://p.dw.com/p/5Hv2R
Skip next section IRGC fires missiles at US bases in JordanJuly 29, 2026
IRGC fires missiles at US bases in Jordan
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it fired several ballistic missiles toward a US air base and Central Command center in Jordan on Wednesday morning
It said the attack was in retaliation for US actions against Iranian interests
“As long as threats against the Islamic Republic continue and the unlawful and hostile actions of US forces against our interests persist, resistance will also continue,” the IRGC told Iranian state media
“Threats by US officials and unlawful interference against our interests must come to an end.”
https://p.dw.com/p/5Hv1b
Skip next section Iraq’s PMF militia says US, Saudi strike ‘killed, injured many’July 29, 2026
Iraq’s PMF militia says US, Saudi strike ‘killed, injured many’
Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), an Iran-aligned umbrella of militias, said the US and Saudi Arabia struck its facilities across Iraq on Wednesday
The PMF said the strike targeted its headquarters in Basra, killing and injuring a number of people it did not specify
The PMF said the strikes were a “highly dangerous escalation” and violated Iraq’s sovereignty
The US has blamed Iran-backed militias in Iraq for recent strikes on American troops in the region and oil infrastructure in Saudi Arabia
https://p.dw.com/p/5Hv1R
Skip next section Saudi Arabia says strikes on Iraqi militants in retaliation for earlier strikesPublished July 29, 2026last updated July 29, 2026
Saudi Arabia says strikes on Iraqi militants in retaliation for earlier strikes
Saudi Arabia on Wednesday confirmed it took part in US strikes on Iran-backed Iraqi militants, saying they came in response to drone strikes by Iraqi militants that attempted to target oil facilities in Sharqiya and Riyadh
The Saudi Defense Ministry stressed in a statement on X its “right to self defense.”
“The kingdom stresses it does not seek escalation but it will respond to any aggression it faces,” the statement read
https://p.dw.com/p/5HuyT
Skip next section US, Saudi Arabia strike Iran-backed militants in IraqJuly 29, 2026
US, Saudi Arabia strike Iran-backed militants in Iraq
The US military said it conducted alongside Saudi Arabia a series of strikes on Iraq in the early hours of Wednesday
The US military’s Central Command (CENTCOM) said the strikes targeting Iraqi militias were in retaliation for strikes on US troops in the region and Saudi energy infrastructure by “Iran-aligned terrorists” in Iraq
“US and Saudi fighter aircraft struck multiple terrorist logistics and weapons sites across eastern Iraq in a strong response to over 30 IRGC-directed aerial drone attacks in the last 72 hours,” the US military’s Central Command said
CENTCOM said the latest strikes against Saudi Arabia, which ended a days-long lull in fighting, were directed by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)
“The IRGC and its terrorist proxies must cease these attacks to avoid further US military response,” it said
https://p.dw.com/p/5HuyV
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