U.S. President Donald Trump vowed today to help Lebanon “a lot” as its President, Joseph Aoun, sought Washington’s backing for a fragile effort to disarm Hezbollah and forge a path to peace with Israel.
Meeting Mr. Aoun at the White House, Mr. Trump said Lebanon had been “a very mistreated country” that had been “hit hard” for decades.
“It’s probably a dangerous place in a lot of ways,” Mr. Trump told reporters. “But they love the country... and we’re going to help it. We’re going to help it a lot.”
- AFP
The U.S. military today identified a soldier who was killed while disarming an Iranian drone in Iraq as a 30-year-old from North Carolina.
The military said it was investigating the death of Sgt. Michael Emmanuel Swinton of Fayetteville during a controlled detonation on July 19, at an air base in Irbil in northern Iraq.
Swinton will get a Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Combat Action Badge, and be promoted to staff sergeant, the military said in a statement.
- AP
The French Foreign Ministry summoned the Iranian charge d’affaires today, two days after it said French embassy staff were detained and physically intimidated by Iranian security services in Tehran.
“France expects the Iranian authorities to shed light on this incident, punish the perpetrators, and ensure the security of its premises and personnel, in accordance with their international obligations,” the Ministry said.
- Reuters
Lebanon’s military said today that Israeli troops fired near its soldiers deploying in a so-called “pilot zone” Israel is to withdraw from under a U.S.-backed agreement.
While troops were deploying in Zawtar al-Gharbiya in southern Lebanon, Israeli forces “opened fire in the vicinity of these units”, the army said, adding that “the attack will hinder the implementation of deployment in the pilot zones”.
- AFP
Crude oil exports from Saudi Arabia fell for a third straight month in May to a record low, data from the Joint Organizations Data Initiative (JODI) showed today, with the U.S.-Iran conflict disrupting shipments across the Gulf.
Exports fell to about 3.434 million barrels per day in May, from 3.986 million bpd in April.
The country’s crude oil production stood at 6.560 million bpd in May, rebounding from a record low of 6.316 million bpd hit in April.
The JODI data for Saudi Arabia’s crude oil exports and output extends back to 2002, the earliest period for which data is available. Monthly export figures are provided by Riyadh and other members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) for the JODI to publish them on its website.
- Reuters
President Donald Trump said the U.S. will be hitting the Pickaxe Mountain area, located near Iran’s heavily damaged Natanz uranium enrichment facility, “pretty soon.”
Pickaxe Mountain is a heavily fortified site that hosts two deeply buried tunnel complexes that experts assess as beyond the reach of the most powerful bunker-buster bombs in the U.S. arsenal. The site is linked to Iran’s nuclear program.
- Reuters
The IEA, in addition to advising its industrialised nation members, also helps them coordinate the release of their strategic oil reserves in reaction to market disruptions.
IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol noted that ongoing government releases from these reserves have provided considerable relief to markets, and that nations continue to hold ample reserves.
However, he warned “there is no room for complacency on oil security” and pointed to a drawdown of available commercial inventories, with low refining activity contributing to a tighter supplies of refined oil products like petrol and diesel than for crude oil.
Mr. Birol noted that additional supplies of liquefied natural gas from the United States and Canada have offset about 70% of lost supply via the Strait of Hormuz.
However, further delays in resuming Gulf exports “will be felt by all LNG importers, including Europe as it looks to refill its gas storage for next winter,” he warned.
- AFP
Kuwait said today it was intercepting Iranian attacks, as sirens sounded in Bahrain, with AFP correspondents in the capitals of both countries hearing explosions.
“Kuwaiti air defence is currently intercepting hostile missile and drone attacks as part of the heinous Iranian aggression,” the Kuwaiti defence ministry said on X. The Bahraini Interior Ministry said in a separate statement that sirens had sounded and called on residents to “head to the nearest safe place”.
- AFP
Saudi Arabia’s main alternative route of using a pipeline to load tankers in the Red Sea port of Yanbu is under threat as Iran’s Yemeni allies, the Houthis, declared they would blockade Saudi Arabia’s ports.
Oil markets have for months feared that the Houthis would return to attacking shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden — as they did during the Gaza war — cutting off yet more crude from global markets.
The initial market reaction to the Houthis’ announcement was restrained; however, as Iran indicated that mediation efforts were still underway, investor jitters were calmed.
“Threats to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which has become increasingly important as a route to bypass the Strait of Hormuz, exacerbate these concerns further,” said IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol, referring to the narrow passage between the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
- AFP
The head of the International Energy Agency said today that renewed fighting in West Asia increases concerns over energy supplies but that the market still has cushions to absorb the impact.
“The escalation in hostilities affecting the Strait of Hormuz and energy infrastructure in the region increases security of supply concerns and uncertainty over the market outlook,” IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol said in a statement.
“For the moment, crude oil markets continue to benefit from several cushioning factors,” he added, pointing to increased exports from several countries and Saudi and United Arab Emirates oil reaching markets by alternative routes.
- AFP
The Lebanese army announced today that it had begun deploying to an area in the south, one of three “pilot zones” outlined in a deal with Israel to disarm Hezbollah.
The announcement came with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun visiting Washington, which sponsored the deal with Israel, for a meeting with his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump.
Israel invaded Lebanon during its recent war with Iran-backed militants Hezbollah, and it has continued to occupy parts of the country despite a ceasefire.
To date, Israeli troops have only controlled the outskirts of one of the so-called pilot zones, with their occupation of other areas yet to be addressed.
- AFP
Residents of Kuwait, one of the world’s hottest countries, are cutting their use of air conditioning at the height of summer, as Iranian strikes on power plants turn rationing into a national priority.
Kuwaiti authorities have called on the public to consume less energy so that they can maintain round-the-clock electricity as the grid comes under Iranian attack.
Nasser Al-Dhafiri, a civil servant in his forties, described “immense psychological pressure” on ordinary people as the attacks sparked fears of electricity outages.
- AP
The level of “interaction” with Iran’s Supreme Leader is increasing day by day, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a video clip published on state media today.
Mojtaba Khamenei has not been seen in public since the airstrike that killed his father, Ali Khamenei, at the start of the Iran war.
Mojtaba Khamenei suffered severe facial and leg injuries in the attack, three people close to his inner circle told Reuters in April.
- Reuters
Kuwait said Tuesday (July 21, 2026) that Iran had again attacked power and desalination plants critical to the tiny desert nation.
The statement from Kuwait’s Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy Ministry said that Tehran had struck the plants for a fourth day in a row on Monday (July 20) night.
It said the attacks sparked fires and caused damage. It said it was working to repair the sites.
Some 90% of Kuwait’s drinking water comes from desalination.
— AP
Yemen’s Houthi rebels announced a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia on Monday (July 20, 2026). The Houthis, who are backed by Iran, said they would block shipping between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden by targeting the Bab el-Mandeb, a maritime chokepoint like the Strait of Hormuz, in response to an attack on Sanaa International Airport last week that they blamed on Saudi Arabia.
With the Strait of Hormuz blocked, Saudi Arabia has been relying on a pipeline to the Red Sea to get millions of barrels of oil out to market. The Houthis earlier demonstrated their ability to disrupt shipping there when they targeted ships for months over the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, with over 100 vessels attacked.
Saudi Arabia’s military said it would keep the waterway open.
“All Houthi threats against transiting vessels will be dealt with swiftly and firmly, as such threats are a blatant violation of international law and fall under acts of maritime piracy,” said Maj. Gen, Turki al-Malki, a Saudi military spokesman.
— AP
The Pentagon’s chief spokesperson said nearly 100 U.S. service members have been injured since the U.S. restarted strikes on July 7, and 96% of them have returned to duty.
“The vast majority of injuries experienced were minor concussions,” Sean Parnell posted Monday on X in response to a New York Times report that the Pentagon has withheld information about troop injuries from Iranian strikes. He denied that the Pentagon was hiding data about injuries.
However, the Defence Casualty Analysis System, the military’s clearinghouse for reporting deaths and injuries in conflict, has not been updated as of Monday night with the latest attacks.
— AP
An Iranian official began meetings Tuesday (July 21, 2026) with mediators in Pakistan as diplomats sought to salvage the collapsed interim deal between Iran and the United States, even as both countries continued to launch attacks for a 10th day of renewed fighting.
The visit by Iran’s Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni comes as Pakistan has intensified diplomatic efforts in recent days to resuscitate the deal. However, it remains unclear just what new arrangement could be reached to end the fighting.
Iran attacked a tanker in the Strait of Hormuz early Tuesday (July 21, 2026), forcing its crew to abandon the ship, while the United States conducted yet another round of airstrikes targeting the Islamic Republic.
— AP
Iranian state media reported that explosions were heard in Fars, Hormozgan, Ilam, Kerman and Sistan and Baluchistan Provinces.
However, traffic through the strait has slowed to a crawl during the latest violence. Lloyd’s List Intelligence said only three ships transited the strait on Sunday (July 19, 2026).
The British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre said a tanker came under attack early Tuesday (July 20, 2026) in the strait off Oman, forcing the crew to abandon the vessel.
Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard claimed the attack, as well as two other attacks on ships Monday (July 20, 2026) in the waterway.
The route around Oman has been the one the U.S. military has encouraged ships to travel to avoid Iran’s control. The UKMTO separately reported on Tuesday (July 21, 2026) that another previously unknown attack on a ship took place early the previous day.
Tehran also hit U.S.-allied countries throughout the Middle East. Jordan military’s said on Tuesday (July 21, 2026) that Iran targeted it with five drones, all of which were shot down.
— AP
Pakistan has intensified diplomatic efforts in recent days to resuscitate the interim deal.
Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni arrived in Islamabad on Monday (July 20, 2026) for two days of talks with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and others.
On Sunday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters that the U.S. is still open to negotiating with Iran but that “it has to be real”.
“If the door opens to diplomacy — if the guys that want to do something productive for Iran win and take control of that system, or take control of the negotiations — that’ll be a very positive development,” Mr. Rubio said. “That’s not where we are tonight, unfortunately.”
Iranian authorities on Sunday (July 19, 2026) said at least 50 people have been killed and 517 wounded in the latest rounds of U.S. strikes. Since the war began on Feb. 28, 17 U.S. service members have been killed.
— AP
U.S. President Donald Trump was planning to attend a ceremony on Tuesday (July 21, 2026) evening at Dover Air Force Base, where at least one service member’s remains were due to arrive.
The U.S. military’s Central Command said on Tuesday (July 20, 2026) it targeted “Iranian military command centres, maritime capabilities, missile and drone launch sites and air defence systems.” It released more footage of bombings that targeted sites in Iran.
“American forces remain postured and prepared to hold Iran accountable for unwarranted aggression toward civilian mariners seeking to freely and openly transit the strait,” the command said.
— AP
“Iran and groups supportive of Iran may target other U.S. interests overseas or at locations associated with the United States and Americans throughout the world,” the U.S. State Department said in a new warning to Americans.
The escalation has pushed oil prices higher in recent weeks. Benchmark Brent crude traded Tuesday (July 21, 2026) above $88 a barrel and regular gasoline in the U.S. climbed to an average of $4 a gallon, keeping pressure on Americans’ wallets ahead of midterm elections this fall.
Meanwhile, the U.S. military identified two soldiers who were killed in Jordan in attacks that left a third person missing. Separately, the military confirmed another death in Iraq on Saturday (July 18, 2026) during the “controlled detonation” of a downed Iranian drone.
President Donald Trump took to social media on Monday (July 20, 2026) to warn that “Every time Iran kills an American Soldier they will pay for that killing many times over!”
— AP
Jordan’s military said on Tuesday (July 21, 2026) it had intercepted five drones launched by Iran targeting the kingdom.
The military made the announcement through the state-run Petra news agency.
It said the interception did not cause casualties or any damage on the ground.
Jordan hosts U.S. forces and aircraft in the country, and has been repeatedly targeted by Iran as the interim deal with the U.S. has collapsed over the fight for control of the Strait of Hormuz.
— AP
The Lebanese army deployed today to “pilot zones” in part of the country that had been under Israeli control following a deal sponsored by Washington, a military source told AFP.
The source said soldiers “have begun deploying to the village of Zawtar al-Gharbiya” in the Nabatieh region, following Israel’s invasion of parts of the south during their war with the militant group Hezbollah.
-AFP
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they targeted infrastructure belonging to U.S. company Amazon in Bahrain, according to a statement published by state media today.
There was no official confirmation from Bahrain. Reuters could not independently verify the incident.
-Reuters
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said today they hit U.S. military targets including air defence systems in Bahrain and Kuwait, state news agency IRNA reported.
The Guards said they struck two air defence systems and a radar installation at two different U.S. outposts in Bahrain, as well as missile defence systems and radars and satellite reception systems in Kuwait.
“With this radar sweep, the enemy should prepare for even more decisive and powerful waves of drone and missile attacks,” the Guards said in a statement carried by IRNA.
The announcement came as the United States said it struck Iranian military command centres, air defence systems and missile launch sites in overnight attacks.
-AFP
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun is set to meet with his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump in Washington today, as pressure builds for Beirut to disarm Hezbollah, Israel’s key condition before withdrawing from south Lebanon.
It comes a day after the United States, which has sponsored negotiations between Lebanon and Israel, announced the start of the implementation of an agreement granting the Lebanese army control over “pilot zones” in southern Lebanon.
These zones are primarily located just outside the lands Israel occupied after Hezbollah drew Lebanon into the West Asia war in March.
-AFP
The U.S. State Department today issued an alert urging American citizens around the world to “exercise increased caution” over the war with Iran.
The alert said that “due to heightened tensions in the West Asia, the security environment remains complex with the potential for unforeseen escalation.”
“Americans outside the Middle East should reconsider travel to and through the region,” it said, while warning of the heightened possibility of attacks targeting U.S. diplomatic facilities “or at locations associated with the United States and Americans throughout the world.”
-AFP
Published - July 21, 2026 09:01 am IST