WORLD
Iran-United States Tensions
Iran trade strikes, signal talks not off the table. Live updates
Christopher CannThao NguyenBart JansenUSA TODAY
Updated July 20, 2026, 12:58 p.m. ET
The United States launched a ninth consecutive night of strikes against Iran and multiple Arab Gulf countries reported attacks, while both Washington and Tehran signaled a willingness to resume talks
U.S. Central Command confirmed that an American service member was killed in northern Iraq during the controlled detonation of an “unexploded ordnance from a downed Iranian one-way attack drone.” The announcement came after CENTCOM said two other service members were killed during an attack in Jordan. A total of 17 U.S. troops have been killed since the war with Iran began earlier this year
“We hit them very hard again tonight, and we did that in honor of the, probably three, it’s probably three great patriots,” President Donald Trump told reporters on Sunday at Joint Base Andrews
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center said early on Monday that a vessel was on fire off the Omani coast in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital trade route that Iran has sought to maintain control of since the start of the war. Kuwait and Bahrain reported attacks from Iranian drones on Monday
The latest escalation follows the breakdown of an interim ceasefire agreement reached about a month ago, as tensions over control of the Strait of Hormuz continue to intensify. Still, both sides have signaled that diplomacy is not off the table. Iran’s Foreign Ministry said regional mediators had drafted proposals seeking to prevent further escalations. On Sunday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. remains willing to negotiate
12:58 pm ET
Trump warns Iran will pay ‘many times over’ for every killed US soldier
President Donald Trump said Iran will pay “many times over” for every American soldier Iran kills in the war following the deaths of three U.S. service members over the weekend in the conflict
“Every time Iran kills an American Soldier they will pay for that killing many times over!” Trump said in a Monday post on Truth Social. “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.”
Trump, speaking to reporters Sunday, said he feels “very badly” about the deaths of the service members. “But, you know, those great people, those great patriots were out there fighting that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon,” he said
Despite the new attacks by Iran on the U.S., Trump said Iran has “lost everything almost militarily.”
9:51 am ET
Kuwait Army confronts missiles, drones from Iran
Bart Jansen
The Kuwait Army announced that it was confronting missile and drone attacks from Iran, warning that sounds of explosions are the result of aerial interceptions
Iran has threatened Kuwait and other surrounding countries hosting the U.S. military in the ongoing war
“Kuwaiti air defenses are currently confronting hostile missile and drone attacks, following the sinful Iranian aggression,” the army said on social media. “The General Staff of the Army notes that if explosion sounds are heard, they are the result of air defense systems intercepting the hostile attacks.”
9:08 am ET
Worldwide caution issued for Americans abroad
Eve Chen
Heightened tensions in the Middle East and “the potential for unforeseen escalation” have prompted the State Department to issue a new worldwide caution for all Americans abroad
The alert advises Americans to exercise increased caution, noting that U.S. diplomatic facilities beyond the Middle East have been targeted and “groups supportive of Iran may target other U.S. interests overseas or locations associated with the United States and/or Americans throughout the world.”
“The Trump Administration has no higher priority than the safety and security of Americans,” the State Department told USA TODAY by email. “We encourage U.S. citizens traveling or living overseas to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), follow our Security Updates for U.S. Citizens WhatsApp channel, and follow @TravelGov on social media.”
Travelers are also advised to monitor news and be aware that travel may be disrupted
The State Department issued a similar global alert in March
8:34 am ET
Pentagon identifies US soldiers killed in Iranian attack
Christopher Cann
The Department of Defense has identified two American service members who were killed in an Iranian attack on a U.S. air base in Jordan on July 17
The Pentagon said 1st Lt. Tyler James Feehan, 25, of Ewa Beach, Hawaii, and Pvt. Isabella Gonzales, 19, of Carrollton, Texas, were killed in an attack on the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base. The Pentagon said the incident is under investigation
Feehan was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 55th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, an Army unit based in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Gonzales was assigned to 1st Battalion, 57th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, an active-duty U.S. Army short-range air defense unit, in Ansbach, Germany
8:01 am ET
Gas prices return to $4 a gallon
Rachel Barber
Oil prices were slightly lower on Monday morning after U.S. and Iranian officials once again signaled that they are open to negotiating. Gas prices, which often lag oil prices, remain elevated
Brent crude oil — the international benchmark — was trading lower around $87 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate — the U.S. benchmark — also erased some previous gains, trading around $81 per barrel
The national average price for a gallon of regular gasoline returned to $4, up from $3.87 last week and from $3.14 this time last year
7:20 am ET
Oil prices climb as strikes continue
Thao Nguyen
Oil prices jumped 3% on July 19, with Brent crude — the international benchmark — climbing $2.69, or 3.05%, to $90.79. U.S. crude was at $84.68 a barrel, up $2.19, or 2.65%
Amid the escalating conflict, both sides have increasingly targeted maritime activity in recent days. The United States says it is enforcing a naval blockade of Iranian ports, while Iran says it is targeting vessels it accuses of violating its navigation rules in the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway that carries about one-fifth of the world’s oil trade
Meanwhile, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency said it received a report of an incident in the Strait of Hormuz, about 8 nautical miles northwest of Kumzar, Oman, where a vessel was on fire. UKMTO said the cause of the fire had not yet been confirmed
“UKMTO have received information from military authorities that a vessel is on fire,” the agency said in a statement July 19. “Vessels are advised to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity to UKMTO while authorities investigate.”
7:09 am ET
Deaths of US service members
Thao Nguyen
CENTCOM said two American service members were killed July 17 and another remained missing after Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks struck U.S. and partner forces in Jordan. Four other service members were medically evacuated to hospitals in Jordan and later released, while personnel treated for minor injuries returned to duty
On July 19, the military said “unidentified remains” had been recovered at the attack site and that efforts to verify their identity were ongoing
Separately, CENTCOM said another service member was killed in northern Iraq on July 18 during a “controlled detonation of unexploded ordnance from a downed Iranian one-way attack drone.” A second service member was wounded in the incident and is receiving medical treatment for a minor injury
The recent deaths bring the total number of U.S. troops killed since the war began to 17. More than 420 service members have been injured
In a statement on X, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said “Their sacrifice only stiffens our resolve.”
