• Widening conflict:Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis claimed to have struck two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea Thursday following their Monday announcement of a naval blockade on Saudi ships
• Ongoing threats: US President Donald Trump said the US will “bomb and destroy” a bridge or power plant every time Iran targets a ship in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s revolutionary guards claimed Thursday that an oil tanker caught fire following an explosion in the key waterway
• Pickaxe Mountain: Tehran has also accused Washington of using Pickaxe Mountain as a pretext for further attacks, after Trump previously threatened to attack the suspected underground nuclear site
• More strikes:The US military said it conducted fresh strikes on Iran Wednesday night.Iranian media reportedtwo people killedin a strike at the Shalamcheh border crossing with Iraq
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Iranian media on Thursday reported what it described as US strikes in the country
Iranian state television on Thursday reported two people were killed and at least 11 others wounded due to what a Khuzestan provincial official described as a missile attack on the Shalamcheh border crossing with Iraq
Meanwhile, local media reported there were strikes on a military site in the port city of Bushehr, near Iran’s only operating commercial nuclear power reactor
Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov attends a meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Pasay, Metro Manila on Thursday.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Manila Thursday morning
Neither answered questions from reporters about whether Russia was supporting Iran by helping to target US troops, or whether Moscow plans to halt its full-scale invasion of Ukraine
A readout from the State Department later confirmed the two envoys discussed “the US-Russia relationship and the need to end the Russia-Ukraine war.”
On Wednesday, Rubio was asked by a reporter on whether he planned to press Lavrov on Ukraine during their meeting
“Obviously the war in Ukraine has in many ways impeded the ability of Russia and the United States to find areas of agreement on other topics, that doesn’t mean we won’t seek to find other areas of potential cooperation,” he said
“But by the same token, we’d like to see that war come to an end … so we’ll raise it,” Rubio added
Asked what role the US is playing in reaching an end to the Russia-Ukraine war, given talks have dissipated, Rubio said: “Perhaps there are now new conditions in place that will allow that conversation to happen.”
“It’s one of the things we’ll explore tomorrow in our conversation,” he added
For context: On the campaign trail in 2023 and 2024, US President Donald Trump said on dozens of occasionsthat he would end the war in Ukraine either within 24 hours of his return to the White House or even sooner than that
More than 500 days into his second term in office, that war still rages with peace talks making little progress
Meanwhile the US war with Iran has also descended back into days of deadly strikes between both sides
Satellite imagery appears to show Saudi oil tanker, Encelia, on fire after being struck in the Red Sea.
Satellite imagery from NASA appears to show the Saudi-flagged tanker Encelia (IMO: 9240172) on fire in the Red Sea, following claims by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis that they struck two Saudi oil tankers early Thursday morning local time
The bright spot visible in the image matches the location the Encelia was broadcasting, according to a CNN analysis of shipping data. A satellite image from the previous day showed no such bright spot at that location, indicating the bright spot is new
The Encelia was “targeted while sailing in the Red Sea,” causing “a fire on the vessel’s bow,” Saudi State News Agency reported, citing an unnamed official at the General Transport Authority
“All crew members are safe,” the report said
The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that a tanker was struck by an “unknown projectile” 70 nautical miles southwest of the Saudi Arabian town of Al Shuqaiq, which “caused a fire onboard.”
The UKMTO did not provide the name of the ship, however, the location they provided matches both the bright spot seen in the satellite imagery and the AIS position the Encelia was broadcasting
NASA’s VIIRS (Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite) sensor captures low-light and thermal emissions at night, making it sensitive enough to detect fires
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said they will “continue their naval operations” against Saudi Arabia and “persist in enforcing “a siege for a siege’ equation,”
Yemen’s Houthis said early on Thursday (July 23) they had carried out a military operation targeting two Saudi oil tankers.
CNN’s Lex Harvey contributed reporting
As the US and Iran continue to trade daily strikes, Tehran and Washington have also been engaging in an escalating war of words, with leaders on each side threatening to match any attacks with a more aggressive response
“Any aggression against Iran, including our infrastructure, will compel a powerful and decisive response,” he added
What Trump said: Araghchi’scomments came after US President Donald Trump said Wednesday the US will “bomb and destroy one bridge or power plant” every time Iran targets a ship transiting the Strait of Hormuz, including those near or in the Iranian capital, Tehran
Trump has previously threatened to target Iranian civilian infrastructure — which could be considered a war crime — including in an interview with Fox News last week when he said the US would “knock out all (Iran’s) bridges unless they get to the table and negotiate.”
How Iran responded:A senior Iranian official warned Iran will retaliate by striking infrastructure across the region
Tehran also reiterated that it will “exercise its sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz,” the Iranian military official said
Video released by CENTCOM shows US forces conducting the latest round of strikes against targets in Iran.
Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis claimed to have struck two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea early on Thursday morning local time, an attack that threatens to create a new front in the war with Iran
Meanwhile, the US military said it launcheda new wave of strikes against Iran, and Iran’s revolutionary guards said Thursday local time that an oil tanker caught fire following an explosion near the Strait of Hormuz
- Red Sea attacks:Satellite imagery from NASA appears to show the Saudi-flagged tanker Encelia on fire in the Red Sea after the UK maritime authority reported a tanker was struck off Saudi Arabia’s Al Shuqaiq, which “caused a fire onboard.” It follows the Houthis’ announcement on Monday of a naval blockade on Saudi ships.
- Iran claims oil tanker caught fire: Iran’s IRGC said a vessel caught fire after it attempted to pass what it described as the mined route south of the Strait of Hormuz, Reuters reported. The IRGC did not give timing for the incidents or further details, and CNN cannot independently verify the claims.
- 12th night of strikes:The US military conducted more strikes on Iranian military and maritime targets Wednesday night, which were meant to “further degrade” Iran’s ability to threaten commercial vessels in regional waters, US Central Command said, as the two countries continue to trade threats to hit critical infrastructure.
- Trump’s threats:President Donald Trump said Wednesday the US will “bomb and destroy a bridge or power plant” every time Iran targets a ship in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran, in turn, will hit infrastructure and energy facilities across the region, an official told Iranian media.
- Pickaxe Mountain: Tehran has also accused Washington of using Pickaxe Mountain as a pretext for further attacks, after Trump earlier also threatened to attack the suspected underground nuclear site.
- Fallen soldiers:Trump attended a dignified transfer of four US service members who were killed in the war. He described the solemn ritual as “one of the hardest things to do as a president.”
Trump vows to bomb a bridge, power plant for every ship Iran hits
2:07• Source:
CNN
Trump vows to bomb a bridge, power plant for every ship Iran hits
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CNN’s Aleena Fayaz, Alejandra Jaramillo, Elise Hammond, Lex Harvey, Tal Shalev, Sophie Tanno and August Phillips contributed reporting to this post
Satellite view of the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.
The Houthis’ blockade of the Bab al-Mandeb strait couldn’t have come at a worse time for the oil market
Iran’s proxies in Yemen have threatened to cut off a major bypass of the Strait of Hormuz, through which oil tanker traffic has slowed dramatically in recent days
An effective Houthi blockade of Bab al-Mandeb would create a new front in the war with Iran, potentially requiring US military intervention that could then erode US ability to help ships out of the Strait of Hormuz. It also could prevent the Saudis from getting diesel to Europe at a crucial time for the fuel market
Why the strait is important:Bab al-Mandeb isn’t as crucial as the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20 million barrels of oil – 20% of the world’s daily supply – typically transited before the war. But Bab al-Mandeb is no slouch: About 6.2 million barrels of oil have been traveling through that strait every day over the past month
Read more about the impacts of a Houthi blockadehere
America-class amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli and embarked 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit arrive at White Beach Naval Facility, Okinawa, Japan, on Wednesday, July 22.
A US Navy amphibious ready group with about 2,200 Marines aboard has returned to Japan after deploying to the Middle East in early days of the US war with Iran
The USS Tripoli Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) “offloaded” the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) to their base on the island of Okinawa on Wednesday, according to a US Navy statement
The 31st MEU Marines were also considered to be a possible force for any US ground attack on Iran or its islands in the Strait of Hormuz or Persian Gulf
Their departure from the Middle East leaves the USS Boxer ARG and its embarked 11th MEU, also with around 2,200 Marines, to help enforce the Washington’s reimposed blockade of Iran as well as be available for any possible ground contingencies
The USS Tripoli and USS Boxer are amphibious assault ships, essentially small aircraft carriers displacing around 40,000 tons. Besides the Marines, they carry watercraft to get them ashore and aircraft including helicopters and F-35B fighter jets
<img src="https://todaytrendnews7.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260722-four-return-iran-0726.jpg" alt="Sgt. Angel S. Rampersad, 1st Lt. Tyler James Feehan, Pvt. Isabella Gonzales and Staff SGT. Michael Emmanuel Swinton,”>
Sgt. Angel S. Rampersad, 1st Lt. Tyler James Feehan, Pvt. Isabella Gonzales and Staff SGT. Michael Emmanuel Swinton,
The dignified transfer of four US service memberskilled in fighting with Iran took place Wednesday at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware
They are among the 18 US troops killed in connection with the war in Iran. During the transfer, which marks the return of the service members’ remains to the United States, transfer cases are used to transport them before they are taken to their final resting places
After attending the dignified transfers, President Donald Trump reflected on how it is among the hardest parts of his job
Here’s what we know about the four service members:
- Lt. Tyler Feehan, of Ewa Beach, Hawaii, died July 18 in Jordan, the Department of Defense said. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 55th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 32nd Army Air Missile Defense Command in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Known by loved ones as “Tivo,” Feehan was looking forward to marrying his partner after his deployment. He also planned to go to law school as another way to serve others. His family said he quoted the movie “Legally Blonde” often about studying law, saying: “What, like it’s hard?”
- Pvt. Isabella Gonzalesjust graduated from high school last spring before enlisting in the Army, her Texas high school told CNN. The 19-year-old from Carrollton, Texas, died in the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base strikes in Jordan on July 17, the Department of Defense said. In her late teens, Gonzales exuded a level of self-confidence many spend their whole lives trying to find, her friend Jade Pena told CNN. “No matter where life took her, she never stopped being herself,” Pena said. “She remained kind, genuine, and full of light. I miss her so much.”
Trump attends dignified transfer for US service members killed in war with Iran
2:50• Source:
CNN
Trump attends dignified transfer for US service members killed in war with Iran
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- Sgt. Angel S. Rampersad, 28, was killed in action during the same Friday attack in Jordan, according to the Pentagon. The soldier was previously listed as missing by US Central Command. Rampersad was assigned to 1st Battalion, 57th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 52d Air Defense Artillery Brigade, 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, Ansbach, Germany. She served as a 25U Signal Operations Support Specialist, the Defense Department said in its statement.
- Sgt. Michael Emmanuel Swintonof Fayetteville, North Carolina, was killed on July 19. The Defense Department on Tuesday identified Swinton as another service member who was killed in action during a controlled detonation of a downed Iranian drone in Iraq. Swinton, 30, “answered the call to duty with courage, honor, and selfless dedication,” the Defense Department said.
