Tehran has threatened a response after the Ukrainian strike on a ship Kyiv says was carrying weapons to Russia.

Read here about how Ukraine says it wants to avoid escalation with Tehran. 

The government of Saudi Arabia has announced the formation of a military alliance to protect shipping in the Red Sea and around the vital Bab al-Mandab Strait that would include 14 nations.

Among the participants would be the Gulf states of Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain, but also Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt and Jordan. But notably, the alliance will not include Oman and the United Arab Emirates.

The move comes after the Iranian-backed Houthi militia in Yemen has led attacks against Saudi ships in the Red Sea. The militants have been launching attacks on merchant vessels in the Red Sea since 2023.

The Saudi Defense Ministry said the alliance would protect freedom of navigation and international trade routes and global energy supplies.

"Maritime security is a shared responsibility," the ministry said. This will be achieved through joint military operations, planning and exercises, and the exchange of intelligence.

The Saudi government has said the alliance is "purely defensive" and does not aim to attack any state, other alliance, or international organization.

Houthis claim attacks on Saudi tankers in Red Sea

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Hamas disarmament deal in progress: sources

Negotiators in Cairo have made progress on the topic of disarmament of the Palestinian militant group Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Hamas sources have said.

The disarmament of Hamas has been one of the key sticking points in furthering a ceasefire deal that has been in place between Israel and the group in Gaza since October.

Sources say that a broad agreement on a 15-point roadmap has been reportedly reached in Cairo, although a Hamas source told AFP that the group was still in the process of making amendments to that proposal. 

Israeli media also reported similar progress with the 15-point roadmap.

There has been no official confirmation from Israel or the international mediators, Egypt, Qatar and Turkey.

Under the framework being discussed, sources say Hamas would not hand its weapons to Israel. Instead, the group would place them under the supervision of the Palestinian transitional administration and international mediators.

Israel would then be required to withdraw all of its troops from the Gaza Strip and halt targeted killings in the Palestinian territory, the sources said.

But Israeli government representatives sought to lower expectations, telling AFP that Israel has demanded the complete disarmament of Hamas, "including the removal of all weapons from the Gaza Strip and the complete demilitarization of the Strip as a precondition for any process."

Israeli representatives told the dpa news agency that, in Israel's view, the 15-point plan under discussion did not yet sufficiently meet these demands.

Israel says Hamas armed wing chief killed

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GDP: US economy feeling effects of Iran war

The United States' economy grew slower than expected in the second quarter of 2026, according to the latest figures from the US Department of Commerce (DOC), as the ongoing war against Iran makes itself felt.

According to the latest DOC estimate released on Thursday, GDP in the US grew by 1.5% when extrapolated across an entire year — a significantly lower rate of growth than the 2.1% predicted by economists surveyed by the Reuters news agency and which the DOC recorded in the first quarter.

Nevertheless, the US Federal Reserve believes the economy is holding up well despite the war, with employment rising and inflation easing slightly.

According to the Federal Reserve's "Beige Book" economic report released mid-month, the majority of companies surveyed anticipated further economic growth in the coming months.

However, considerable uncertainty remains regarding fuel costs, with energy costs for businesses and consumers rising sharply.

Reuters: Iran to receive Chinese shoulder-launched missiles

Iran could be set to receive a shipment of up to 400 shoulder-fired air defense missiles from China in the coming weeks, according to the Reuters news agency, citing "three sources familiar with the deal."

According to the Reuters sources, the deal involves the purchase of 300 to 400 man-portable air ‌defense systems (MANPADS), including Chinese-made QW-12 and ⁠FN-16 ⁠missiles, for $60 million to $70 million (€52 million to €61 million).

Reuters described the deal as "one of Tehran's largest-known efforts to strengthen its short-range air defenses," weaknesses in which have been exposed since the outbreak of the war with the United States and Israel.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry has called the Reuters report "completely groundless" and insisted that Beijing has "consistently played a role in promoting peace and ending the conflict."

Asked about the deal at a press conference in Beijing on Thursday, a Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson also insisted he was "not familiar with the ​relevant situation."

Neither the Iranian Foreign Ministry nor the Beijing-based parent company of the Hong Kong investment firm that reportedly acted as a mediator in the arms deal has commented on the report.

Pakistan: United States and Tehran in 'ongoing' talks to 'de-escalate'

Pakistan's Foreign Mministry said on Thursday that Iranian and US representatives were still engaged in "ongoing" talks to bring about a deescalation of the conflict, despite the earlier exchanges of fire.

"Negotiations between parties are ongoing, particularly on [the] Strait of Hormuz and to deescalate," Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi told reporters in Islamabad.

He added that Pakistan, a key mediator in the conflict, was "doing everything possible to bring all parties back to the protocols of the Islamabad accord" – referring to the ceasefire deal signed in mid-June which was intended to pave the way for further peace talks.

Egypt confirms drone attack behind fire on gas vessels at Damietta Port

Egypt said a drone attack sparked the fire that engulfed two gas vessels at the Mediterranean port of Damietta.

The Egyptian cabinet said the blaze was not an accident, marking the first official confirmation that the incident was an attack.

"Relevant agencies continue investigations to determine the circumstances of the incidents and take the necessary measures to preserve Egypt's interests and national security," the Cabinet added in an online statement.

The incident came amid heightened tensions in the Middle East following recent military exchanges involving Iran, the US, Saudi Arabia and Tehran-backed groups in Iraq.

Maritime trade tracking firm Kpler identified the damaged ships as the Energos Winter storage and regasification vessel and the GasLog Salem tanker, saying the vessels had been moved offshore after the incident.

"The Damietta Port Authority confirms the continued full operational efficiency of the port, with all terminals and berths experiencing regular vessel arrivals and departures, along with ongoing loading, unloading, and cargo handling of all types," the Damietta Port Authority said in a statement.

Jordan shoots down five missiles launched from Iran

Jordan on Thursday said its air defenses intercepted five missiles launched from Iran that were heading toward the kingdom, with no casualties reported.

"The missiles were detected, intercepted, and shot down according to established defense plans," a military statement said.

The interceptions came hours after the US military said it carried out a wave of strikes on dozens of targets in Iran.

Two injured in US strikes, Iranian state media reports

Two people were injured in the US strikes on the island of Qeshm in the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian state media reported on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on late Wednesday that its forces hit dozens of Islamic Revolutionary Guard targets including military command centers.

The "heavy wave of strikes" were in response to Tehran's attempted missile attacks on US forces on Tuesday.

US strikes on Iran 'completed,' military says

The US military announced that its "heavy wave" of strikes on Iran was completed.

In a statement on X, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said its latest wave of strikes hit "dozens of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targets in Iran, including military command centers, missile and drone facilities, coastal surveillance and defense sites, and maritime capabilities."

"The strikes aimed to further diminish threats posed by Iran and its proxies to American forces, commercial shipping, and neighboring Gulf countries," US CENTCOM went on to say.