Iran live updates: Egypt confirms Mediterranean port fire was caused by drone
Iran live updates: Egypt confirms Mediterranean port fire was caused by drone
A fire broke out at the Damietta Port on Wednesday, authorities said.
President Donald Trump announced "major combat operations" against Iran on Feb. 28, with massive joint U.S.-Israeli strikes targeting military, government and infrastructure sites.
Delegations from the U.S. and Iran entered negotiations in June aimed at a war-ending deal based on a memorandum of understanding signed by both countries.
The U.S. and Iran have nonetheless continued to exchange strikes, with the strategic Strait of Hormuz the primary flashpoint.
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US issues new sanctions targeting supporters of Iran's Mahan Air
The Departments of State and Treasury announced new sanctions targeting several Chinese and Russian entities & others accused of supporting Mahan Air, an Iranian airline sometimes used by the IRGC to transport personnel and arms.
"The United States calls on the international community, particularly companies and individuals doing business with Mahan Air or any other sanctioned Iranian carrier, to recognize the serious risks raised by continuing such engagement,” State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said.
Thursday's move comes amid reports that China will soon send hundreds of anti-aircraft missiles to Iran -- claims Beijing has denied -- and as scrutiny of assistance provided to Iran’s war effort by China and Russia has intensified, despite repeated assertions from administration officials that the countries have not made significant contributions.
The sanctions also target an Iranian company said to support Tehran’s military by gathering intelligence on locations of American and Israeli equipment in the Middle East.
-ABC News' Shannon K. Kingston
Iran says parents, 2-year-old were killed in overnight strike
A man, woman and their two-year-old child were killed in an airstrike that struck a residential house on Qeshm Island, Iran, early Thursday morning, local officials said.
The deputy governor of the province of Hormozgan, where Qeshm is located, told Iranian state media around 4:30 a.m. local time that rescuers were searching for people trapped in the rubble of a residential house that was hit by an "enemy projectile."
The Iranian Red Crescent Society posted an update later Thursday morning, saying that the parents of a family and their two-year-old child were killed and found in the rubble. Two children ages 7 and 9 were injured and taken from the residence to hospital.
ABC News has reached out to CENTCOM for comment.
Saudi Arabia announces formation of multinational maritime defense alliance
Saudi Arabia and 13 other countries agreed on Thursday to establish a multinational maritime defense alliance aimed at "enhancing maritime security, protecting freedom of navigation, securing international trade and energy supply routes, and safeguarding shared maritime interests" in the Bab al-Mandab Strait, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, the Saudi defense ministry said.
The announcement came after Saudi Arabia hosted a meeting on Thursday with representatives of 43 countries and the European Union to discuss its proposal to establish the coalition.
Saudi Arabia is set to be the founding and leading country and will host the coalition’s headquarters, the Saudi ministry said.
The 13 countries joining the coalition are Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Yemen, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Sudan, Djibouti and Somalia.
-ABC News' Ayat Altawy
Jordan intercepts 5 Iranian missiles
The Jordanian Armed Forces said in a statement that its air defenses shot down five missiles launched from Iran early on Thursday morning.
-ABC News' Ayat Al-Tawy, Ghazi Balkiz and Clark Bentson
Egypt confirms drone caused fire at Damietta Port
The Egyptian cabinet confirmed in a statement posted to social media on Thursday that Wednesday's fire at the Damietta Port in the north east of the country was caused by a drone, though did not say who was responsible.
"The preliminary investigations into the incident" indicated that the fire was caused by a drone, the statement said. "No party has announced its responsibility for the incident," it added.
The fire at the port, which sits along the Mediterranean coast, affected two ships -- a storage tanker and a vessel used to turn liquid fuel into gas -- Egyptian authorities said.
"The relevant authorities continue to conduct investigations to determine the circumstances of the incident and take the necessary measures to protect Egypt's interests and national security," the cabinet statement said.
-ABC News' Ayat Al-Tawy
Kuwait says Iranian strike killed worker at Chinese company building
Kuwait's Army headquarters said in a post to X on Thursday morning that an Iranian strike targeted a building belonging to a Chinese company in the north of the Gulf nation, killing one worker and causing significant damage to the facility. The headquarters did not name the company.
US hits dozens of targets in 'heavy wave' of strikes against Iran: CENTCOM
The U.S. hit dozens of targets in a "heavy wave" of strikes against Iran in response to an attempted surprise missile attack on U.S. forces earlier this week, U.S. Central Command said in a statement.
"CENTCOM assets struck 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 statement said. "The strikes aimed to further diminish threats posed by Iran and its proxies to American forces, commercial shipping, and neighboring Gulf countries."
CENTCOM has said Iran launched multiple ballistic missiles on Tuesday toward U.S. forces based in the Middle East but that all the missiles were successfully intercepted.
US begins retaliatory strikes against Iran
United States Central Command said it has begun retaliatory strikes against Iran Wednesday night in the wake of Tuesday night’s surprise attack on U.S. forces.
Earlier on Wednesday, President Donald Trump signaled that the U.S. would carry out major strikes as a result of that attack. CENTCOM is calling the strikes a “powerful response” to the attack.
-ABC News' Luis Martinez
Netanyahu and Trump discussed Iran options in White House meeting: Israeli official
During their White House meeting on Tuesday, President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed multiple options for how to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon including military, diplomatic and economic pressure options, according to a senior Israeli official who briefed reporters on the meeting.
Netanyahu did not express to Trump a preference for which option to take when asked if Netanyahu prefers a military option, said the official.
The official warned Iran that if it attacked Israel, it would be making “a big mistake” because Israel would respond “very, very forcefully” and “very quickly."
The official made clear that in the relationship between the two leaders, Trump is the "senior partner" and Netanyahu is the "junior partner."
The official said Israel believes that Iran’s nuclear material has not been moved from the nuclear facilities bombed by the U.S. last week. “We know where it is, it hasn’t moved,” the official said. But later the official seemed to step back from that assertion saying “We think we know where it is" without elaborating.
Ahead of the Trump-Netanyahu meeting there had been indications that the Israeli leader was going to present intelligence about Iran’s activities at Pickaxe Mountain near Natanz, which in the end did not happen.
The official downplayed that Israel had more intelligence than the U.S. noting that both countries readily share their intelligence about Iran.
-ABC News' Luis Martinez
Trump says 'it's our turn' to strike Iran, vowing to hit them 'very hard,' 'smack them a little bit'
President Donald Trump said that it is "our turn" to strike Iran during an event in the Oval Office on Wednesday, hinting at an impending response to Iran's intercepted strikes on U.S. forces in the Middle East last night.
While the president vowed to strike Iran "very hard" and also "smack them a little bit," he also left the door open to the negotiations he has claimed are going on, following his threats by saying "we'll see if we get there with an agreement at some point."
"In the meantime, we're going to be hitting them very hard because it's our turn to hit them. They know it's coming. They're asking us not to do it, but you know they tried shooting it last night," Trump said.
"So we had five rockets shot going 8,500 miles an hour, and all five rockets were knocked down to the ground, but they nevertheless took a shot. So, it's our turn, and we'll see if we get there with an agreement at some point. But we're going to hit them very hard," Trump added.
When a reporter asked whether Trump would "always respond" to an Iranian strike, Trump said, "pretty much."
Egypt says fire breaks out at Damietta port after reports of drone attack
Egypt's Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral resources confirmed on Wednesday that "a fire broke out on the regasification vessel and the storage vessel located in Damietta Port."
The ministry said the "incident did not result in any injuries or loss of life," without specifying the cause of the fire.
The ministry's brief statement followed reports on an explosion at the LNG (liquid natural gas) terminal in Egypt, located in the north east of the country.
One security source denied the port had been targeted by a drone, after Reuters, citing maritime security firm Ambrey, reported that an initial assessment indicated a drone had hit a U.S.-owned gas storage tanker at Damietta port.
In a separate statement, the Inchcape Shipping Services, a port services firm, said that an explosion had occurred at Egypt's Damietta Port during cargo discharge operations on Wednesday evening.
The vessels involved have been relocated outside the port, and operations are expected to resume at nighttime at other berths and terminals, ISS said.
-ABC News' Ayat Altawy, Jamie Dorrington, Somayeh Malekian
US Patriot stockpile diminished by 65%, think tank estimates
A Center for Strategic and International Studies report released this week estimates that the U.S. stockpiles of its two critical air defense interceptors are dramatically reduced since combat between the U.S. and Iran began on Feb. 28.
The new report updates a prior report from April 8, when the two
countries entered a ceasefire. The first report found that the U.S.
stockpile of Patriot interceptors decreased by 55%. Updated figures --
accounting for a number of conflagrations since the ceasefire -- find
the stockpile reduced another 10% -- with 65% of US Patriots now lost,
according to the CSIS findings.
That's as few as 759 Patriot missiles in the U.S. stockpile, the analysis says.
The U.S. produces 183 of these interceptors a year, and it takes some
3.5 years from when a contract is signed for them to be delivered,
according to CSIS.
-ABC News' Chris Boccia
US sanctions IRGC-backed entities operating insurance schemes in Strait of Hormuz
The Departments of State and Treasury have announced new sanctions targeting IRGC-backed entities accused of running "coercive 'insurance' schemes" to extort vessels in the Strait of Hormuz by charging fees for protection against risks created by the Iranian regime itself, as well as eight companies the administration says have facilitated Iranian oil exports to China and the UAE.
The move brings the total number of Iranian shadow fleet vessels sanctioned by the U.S. this year to over 100.
"The United States will continue to hold Iran accountable for weaponizing vital international waterways and evading sanctions through shadow fleet operations and deceptive financial schemes,” State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said.
"Protecting navigational rights and freedoms in the Strait of Hormuz is a global interest, and the United States will act, alongside partners, to ensure Iran cannot hold international commerce hostage to finance its malign activities," Pigott said.
Trump says US will hit Iran 'hard' following Jordan missile attack
President Donald Trump is pledging the U.S. will respond to an overnight missile attack launched by Iran.
Describing the missile attack as a surprise, Trump told Fox News on Wednesday, "we'll be hitting them [Iran] hard” and added, "they're going to get a beating."
Trump said U.S. forces at the targeted facilities shot down the incoming missiles and had only minutes to respond to what U.S. Central Command called an "attempted surprise attack."
Commenting on overnight U.S.-Saudi strikes on Iranian-backed militias in Iraq, Trump said the Tehran-aligned groups were a "cancer on the world."
On Tuesday’s meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the president said that it was a great meeting and said that he believes his relationship with Netanyahu is strengthening.
Trump said that the meeting was great in terms of possible talks with the Iranian regime, and pledged that the U.S. is going to allow negotiators to keep talking. The Iranians have repeatedly rejected that there are ongoing talks.
Jordan shoots down 5 missiles fired from Iran, state media says
Jordan's official Petra news agency said the country's air defenses shot down five missiles fired from Iran on Wednesday morning.
Saudi Foreign Ministry condemns 'reckless' Iraqi militias after strikes
The Saudi Arabian Foreign Ministry on Wednesday posted a statement to X condemning what it called "reprehensible drone attacks carried out against the Kingdom by Iran-backed militias in Iraq, and reaffirming the Kingdom's determination to deter the perpetrators and its right to respond."
The statement said that the joint U.S.-Saudi strikes "were undertaken in the exercise." The ministry added that Riyadh "does not seek escalation," but "should it be subjected to any further attacks, it will not hesitate to take all necessary measures to safeguard its sovereignty and protect its citizens and national assets."
The ministry posted the statement hours after U.S. and Saudi forces launched airstrikes on Iranian-backed militias in Iraq. The strikes were a response to three days of attacks on Saudi energy sites launched from inside Iraq.
The Saudi ministry said it was "exerting every effort to help de-escalate tensions in the region in a manner that preserves its security and stability."
"These Iran-backed terrorist militias chose a reckless path of escalation, in blatant violation of international law, in disregard of the obligations of Islamic brotherhood, including adherence to the principles of good neighborliness," it added.
-ABC News' Clark Bentson
US, Saudi Arabia strike in Iraq, targeting Iranian proxy groups: CENTCOM
The U.S. and Saudi Arabia carried out “precision strikes” inside Iraq targeting Iran-backed proxy groups, U.S. Central Command said Tuesday, a move that comes in response to the attacks on Saudi energy sites from inside Iraq over the last three days.
"U.S. 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," CENTCOM said in a statement.
The strikes were carried out against "Iran-aligned terrorists that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) directed to attack U.S. forces and Saudi energy infrastructure," CENTCOM said.
US intercepts Iranian missiles in 'attempted surprise attack' in Middle East: CENTCOM
The U.S. intercepted an "attempted surprise attack" on U.S. forces in the Middle East on Tuesday, according to U.S. Central Command.
"At 5:45 p.m. ET today, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces launched multiple ballistic missiles from Iran in an attempted surprise attack on U.S. forces based in the Middle East," CENTCOM said in a statement. "All Iranian missiles were successfully intercepted. U.S. forces remain vigilant and at a high state of readiness."
CENTCOM did not identify the exact location of the targeted U.S. forces.
Iran claims US attacks damaged Iran's civilian infrastructure, killed over 350 government employees
The recent U.S. attacks on Iran caused "severe damage" to civilian infrastructure across Iran, including airports, bridges, railways and energy facilities, Iranian government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani said during a press briefing Tuesday.
Mohajerani also said more than 350 Iranian government employees had been killed. Twelve bridges and two tunnels have also been damaged, she said.
"The recent attacks have inflicted severe damage on civilian infrastructure across the region. Tourism businesses have suffered crippling losses. In Bushehr, the Meteorological Center, a purely civilian facility dedicated solely to weather forecasting, has been almost entirely razed, with virtually nothing left standing," Mohajerani said.
Adding, "The Bushehr Airport has likewise been rendered completely inoperable and will require total reconstruction. Furthermore, the maritime control tower at Chabahar has been destroyed."
Houthis claim to have struck another Saudi oil tanker
The Houthis claimed to have attacked a Saudi oil tanker NCC GHAZAL in the Red Sea with several ballistic missiles "for violating the maritime blockade imposed on the Saudi enemy," the Houthis said in a post on X.
Trump-Netanyahu White House meeting ends
President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's White House meeting has ended, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Tuesday.
Images from the meeting show Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in attendance.
Leavitt said that Trump's meetings with Netanyahu and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy were "positive and productive."
Netanyahu arrives at White House
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived at the White House for a closed-door Oval Office meeting with President Donald Trump on Tuesday.
Ahead of Tuesday's meeting, Trump blasted the Israeli prime minister during an interview on "Fox and Friends," where he insinuated that reports of Israeli intelligence sharing were a ploy to try and keep the U.S. engaged in the conflict.
“Well, I don't need Bibi to tell me that. Bibi is telling me that because he wants me to stay involved,” Trump said, responding to questions about reports that Netanyahu would share information on alleged Iranian attempts to build back its nuclear capabilities.
-ABC News' Nicholas Kerr
Netanyahu to present Trump with new intelligence on Iran's military capabilities
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will present President Donald Trump with new Israeli intelligence on Iran's efforts to rebuild it's military capabilities during their White House meeting Tuesday, sources tell ABC News.
The two are scheduled to meet behind closed doors without a press conference scheduled, sources familiar with the matter tell ABC News. This marks the first face-to-face meeting between the two leaders since the joint operation against Iran began in late February.
Vice President JD Vance will also be a part of the meeting, an Israeli official confirmed to ABC News.
-ABC News' Jordana Miller
Trump criticizes Netanyahu over Israeli Pickaxe Mountain intel
President Donald Trump on Tuesday morning reiterated his threats to strike Iran's critical infrastructure and criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a phone interview with Fox and Friends.
Trump is set to meet with Netanyahu in the Oval Office at 11 a.m. ET. The president criticized Netanyahu over media reports suggesting Netanyahu planned to discuss Israeli intelligence about potential Iranian excavation at Pickaxe Mountain, which lies one mile south of the Natanz nuclear enrichment complex near Isfahan.
"Well, I don't need Bibi to tell me that. Bibi is telling me that because he wants me to stay involved," Trump said.
"I heard Bibi announced that. I said, why don't you just tell it to me? Why do you have to announce it to the world? I know exactly what's going on at Pickaxe. It's not a big problem. We took out their nuclear sites and we'll have to take out Pickaxe if we don't make a deal," Trump added.
The president also again said that the U.S. and Iran were still talking -- something the Iranians have dismissed. But the president refused to address questions about who exactly the administration was speaking to in Iran.
"For some reason, we can be in the midst of a beautiful discussion and they'll come out and say, we're not talking or we didn't discuss nuclear. Well, that's all we discussed, because they'll never have a nuclear weapon," he said.
The president again floated strikes on Iran's power plants, bridges and desalination plants -- a threat he has previously walked back.
"I would say in two hours. Most of the bridges, the major bridges will all be gone. And the power plants in one day. And, you know, if I can avoid doing that, I'd like to do that," Trump said, giving a timeline for how long he said it would take for the U.S. to accomplish such an objective.
"And then there's always the desalinization plants. And who am I hurting there? I'm hurting the people. So I'm not looking to do that," he added.
Trump also acknowledged "a lot of competing factions" within the GOP on Iran. He said, "I have many Republicans that want me to keep going," while another group "says, this is actually a good time to make a deal for them," he added.
Trump later dismissed the war as a "little situation" and sought to assuage fears over the economic impact of the war. "This is going to be better soon as this little situation gets worked out. I believe it's going to be better. It already is better," he said.
-ABC News' Nicholas Kerr
IDF intercepts drone along border with Jordan
The Israel Defense Forces said on Tuesday morning that the Israeli Air Force intercepted “an unmanned aircraft that was identified at the Jordan border.”
“The aircraft did not cross into the country's territory; the launch origin is under investigation,” the IDF said in a post to X.
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